Police claim that one killer in California tried hiding in plain sight. The unidentified 16-year-old suspect tried to fool everyone by orchestrating a search party for missing High School athlete Jeremy Sanchez, 17. Indeed, on Wednesday, the suspected murderer found Sanchez's dead body near a riverbed. A day later, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told the media that the teenager who found Sanchez's body was also the teenager who murdered him.
"The person who killed him [Sanchez] is the one who said 'Look, there he is,'" said homicide investigator John Corina.
Given that the suspect is under eighteen, there is a distinct possibility that his identity will not be released until the trial. Sheriff's investigators have also refused to say what they found at the suspect's home besides disclosing that "very helpful" evidence was discovered during the search.
According to Fox11 in Los Angeles, Sanchez, a star wrestler and football player in South El Monte, California was a beloved student. As an example of how much his peers liked him, hundreds of fellow students, friends, and family held a vigil for Sanchez on Thursday night. Some even traveled to the riverbed of the San Gabriel River where Jeremy's body was found. Flowers and other items have been left behind for the victim at the connection of Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive (the exact location of the crime scene).
Motive
By all appearances, this murder occurred because of a lover's quarrel. The 16-year-old killer was Sanchez's former boyfriend. Apparently, after a particularly nasty breakup, the killer decided that nobody else could date Jeremy ever again. Most students at El Monte Union High School were aware of Sanchez's bi-sexuality, and many seem to agree with the police conclusion that extreme attraction led to Sanchez's tragic murder.
A GoFundMe page has been established by the victim's cousin. The page's goal is $20,000. As of this writing, it has raised $14,022 in just a single day.
Method
Jeremy's former wrestling coach, Ray Castellanos, has described Sanchez as a "respectful kid" who always wore a smile on his face. It seems the suspected killer erased this smile forever by stabbing Sanchez to death.
There is no word yet on how many times Sanchez was stabbed, or what kind of weapon was used in the crime.
The media have yet to report on any information regarding the suspect's past, his character, etc. No date for a trial has been set either. The suspected killer is currently being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.
