Crime & Safety
Soldier's Remains Found In Trunk, Arrest Announced By Anaheim PD
The body of a US soldier was found wrapped in a tarp, abandoned under an Anaheim bridge. One month later, a suspect was under arrest.
ANAHEIM, CA —On Wednesday, Anaheim police announced an arrest had been made in the brutal killing of Adrian Darren Bonar, 34, a former US soldier. The Escondido man's body was found Oct. 17 in the trunk of a car located near Santa Ana Canyon and Gypsum Canyon roads, near the 91 freeway and 241 toll road connector.
The circumstances of his death have remained a mystery until Wednesday, when officials announced the arrest.
Antonio Silva Lopez, 27, was accused of killing Bonar on Oct. 4, according to court records. Other charges include a felony count of kidnapping for ransom-extortion or to commit robbery or a sex crime, according to court records.
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California Highway Patrol officers were preparing to tow the car but found "suspicious" objects that led to the discovery of the body.
Friends said Bonar served in the Army and was deployed to Iraq.
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Police said that when they arrested Lopez on Monday, he was allegedly holding another man for ransom, prompting the kidnapping charge against him. That alleged victim has not been identified, and is referred to only as John Doe in the criminal complaint. Prosecutors said the alleged kidnapping occurred between Friday and Monday.
Police said drugs and weapons were also found inside the home.
According to court records, Lopez pleaded guilty in October 2014 to statutory rape of a 12-year-old female relative in Santa Ana and was sentenced to a year in jail, according to court records.
The family of the victim has stated that Bronar suffered post-traumatic stress after his time in the army. He also was thought to have recently returned home to Escondido to be closer to his children.
Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Daron Wyatt told Patch that officers investigating the abandoned Lexus and ultimately made the discovery of Bronar's tarp wrapped remains in the trunk of the vehicle. Anaheim police have led the investigation.
Bonar's family has established a foundation in his name to lend aid to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and drug abuse.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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