Body Found In Trunk Of Car Parked In Huntington Beach Neighborhood

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — An Arizona man was arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of a woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car outside a home in Huntington Beach, police said Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched to the 17000 block of Friml Lane at about 5:15 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a family disturbance at the residents, the Huntington Beach Police Department said in a statement.

After arriving, responding officers contacted the involved parties and secured the location before finding a deceased woman during their initial investigation.

Officers said the woman "passed away under suspicious circumstances."

Detectives from the Crimes Against Persons Unit were sent to the scene, authorities said, and the OC District Attorney's Office, as well as the OC Sheriff's Department-Coroner Division and Crime Lab responded to the incident.

Based on interviews and evidence found at the scene, authorities arrested 34-year-old Richard Paul Rodriguez of Holbrook, Arizona, on suspicion of murdering 54-year-old Christi Lynn Romero, Holbrook police said.

According to the Holbrook Police Department, authorities Monday issued a bulletin about Romero going missing in her hometown of Holbrook. The bulletin also identified Rodriguez as a suspect in the case.

The bulletin included a photo of Romero's red, two-door sedan, a 1995 Plymouth Neon, that was believed to have been stolen. The photo appears to match the sedan in which the body was found in Huntington Beach.

"It is believed that Richard Rodriguez may have forced his way into Christi's residence and forced her to leave," the bulletin stated. "Christi did have a 9mm pistol which is unaccounted for and is believed to be in Richard's possession."

Holbrook police noted that Romero had obtained a protective order against Rodriguez, and it was served on him on Nov. 2.

Neighbors in the Huntington Beach neighborhood told KTLA5 that Rodriguez's adoptive parents live on the street where the car and body were found.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Detective S. McCollom at 714-960-8848. Tipsters may also call OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP- OCCS.