Two teens due in court on murder charges in death of graphic artist
Two men are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in the death of a 42-year-old man whose body was found inside a burned SUV in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Jose Angel Martinez, 18, of Compton and Adrian Berumen, 18, of Long Beach face murder and arson charges in connection with the April 23 death of Christopher Waters.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators say Waters was killed over a business deal gone bad.
“The victim was doing some graphic artist work for the suspects’ silk screening business when the argument occurred,” sheriff’s homicide Lt. Holly Francisco the Los Angeles Times. She said the suspects drove the SUV with Waters inside to Rancho Palos Verdes and then set the vehicle on fire.
After putting out the fire, firefighters found Waters in the rear of the SUV. His feet were bound together and a cord was wrapped around his neck.
Four days after the April 23 killing, Berumen walked into the Long Beach Police Department and asked to speak with homicide detectives about the slaying. No further details were provided.
Berumen, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was arrested May 3 and later charged with murder by the district attorney. Martinez was arrested May 8 and was also charged with murder.
At least three murders have taken place in Rancho Palos Verdes since 2007, according to the L.A. Times’ Homicide Report.
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