Man Held in Pregnant Teen’s Killing

Police arrested a 25-year-old man Friday in connection with the slaying of a pregnant teen-ager whose nude body was found near the trolley tracks at 32nd and Commercial streets, police said.

Ricky Eugene Thompson, who is the boyfriend of the victim’s sister Brenda, is being held in County Jail without bail. Thompson, who has relatives in San Ysidro, would not give a permanent address.

The body of Sarah Lee McLemore, 18, of the 200 block of South 33rd Street, was found by a San Diego Transit employee about 7 a.m. Thursday. McLemore was five months’ pregnant.

An autopsy Friday confirmed that McLemore was killed by a blow to the head, possibly by a rock found near her body, Deputy Coroner Max Murphy said. Results are still pending on whether the woman was sexually assaulted.

Homicide detectives said Thompson was arrested about 1 a.m. Friday after police questioned family members and uncovered evidence that may link him to the woman’s slaying.

“We arrested him basically because of the jacket that was discovered and may possibly have had bloodstains on it,” Sgt. C.T. Martin said of Thompson’s jacket, which was found at the victim’s home. “We contacted family members, picked up the jacket and then conducted interviews and questioning with the suspect.”

Martin said police could not comment on a possible motive, but he did say McLemore was not pregnant by Thompson.

Before Thompson’s arrest, family members reportedly told police that McLemore left the house Wednesday with a man she knew. Police said that man was Thompson and the family may have known that.