Crime & Safety
Arrest In Santa Ana Woman's Murder
A Santa Ana man is behind bars on suspicion of killing a woman at an area apartment complex. Her name has not yet been released.
SANTA ANA, CA — A man is behind bars Tuesday on suspicion of killing a woman in a Santa Ana apartment complex. The 38-year-old Mark Lewis Amacher was being held without bail, booked Monday on suspicion of murder according to the Santa Ana police department. Amacher was released from jail last Wednesday, after being arrested in July, though the reason for his being jailed was not immediately known.
Another man was arrested after being questioned about the murder, but the arrest was related to a felony warrant for burglary according to Santa Ana police.
Braden Andrew Buck is being held without bail, according to jail records. Buck has a case pending involving two counts each of second-degree burglary and identity theft, and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, stemming from alleged crimes that happened last October, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty May 31 and is due in court on Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.
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A woman in her 50s was found Monday in a Santa Ana home known to police for drawing multiple complaints regarding narcotics and other disturbances. A man called police about 3 a.m. to report that she was "hurt and needed medical attention" at 215 S. Birch St., according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
When officers arrived, "they could see her lying on the ground and forced entry into the residence and found her to be deceased with a male next to her," Bertagna said.
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Police took the man, who is in his 30s, in for questioning. The victim was in her 50s, according to Bertagna, who said both lived at the Birch Street home.
"At this point it appears to be a homicide, based on her injuries, Bertagna said. "We're looking into the possibility that the caller was different than the person detained."
The home has drawn numerous calls for police service, Bertagna said.
"We come to this location on a regular basis for narcotics and disturbance calls," he said.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
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