Orange County man held in deaths of girlfriend, 2 sons
A man suspected of killing his girlfriend and their two young sons is in jail while authorities continue searching for the bodies after unsuccessfully combing an Orange County landfill Friday.
Shazer Limas, 31, of Orange was booked on suspicion of murder in the deaths of Arlet Hernandez, 31, and their sons — a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old.
Limas was arrested late Thursday after a long police chase and standoff that closed Interstate 5 in north San Diego County near the San Onofre nuclear plant, backing up traffic for miles in both directions.
Authorities began searching for Limas after managers found blood and other evidence at the apartment in Orange that he had just vacated.
Trash from the sprawling complex is dumped at a Brea landfill. Police searched it Thursday night before finally giving up about 8 a.m. Friday.
“We wanted to check it in the event he had discarded the bodies somewhere in the building,” Orange Police Sgt. Dan Adams said.
Evidence suggests that the three were killed inside the apartment, possibly a week ago, police said.
Sheriff’s tape remains across the apartment door at the Renaissance at Uptown Orange, a gated complex near UCI Medical Center. Police said Limas, Hernandez and the children shared the unit.
Notices from the management company taped to doors throughout the complex said: “We understand that being in a community where a crime may have occurred is troubling.”
Neighbors, who asked not to be identified, said they heard loud music coming from the apartment between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the night the killings are thought to have occurred. They described Limas as “odd” and “not approachable.”
Limas was arrested after a police spike strip disabled his car near the nuclear plant. He surrendered unarmed after an hourlong standoff.
Police said Limas, who is being held without bail at Orange County Jail, is talking with investigators. In booking papers, he described himself as a franchise manager.
“We’re hoping he helps us so we can bring some closure to the family,” Adams said.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Esmeralda Bermudez contributed to this report.
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