Woman’s Body Found Inside Burned Home

The badly burned body of a 44-year-old woman was found in a charred Tustin apartment Tuesday, leading police and fire investigators to suspect murder and arson.

Police believe that the woman, whose body was burned beyond recognition, lived in the apartment. Coroner’s investigators will examine dental records for a positive identification, said Tustin Police Lt. Frank Semelsberger.

The fire broke out about 8:40 a.m. Orange County firefighters controlled it within 11 minutes, confining it to the one apartment, in the 14900 block of Newport Avenue.

Police and fire investigators found out that the woman’s body might be in the apartment when her boyfriend told police that she had failed to pick up friends for 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. appointments, said Orange County Fire Capt. Patrick McIntosh. That is when police discovered the couple’s car--a blue 1988 Hyundai--missing.

The woman, who shared the apartment with her boyfriend, had dropped him off at work at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station earlier in the morning, McIntosh said.

“They only have one car between them. She dropped him off and was scheduled for an 8:30 appointment and an 11:30 appointment. . . . She didn’t show up for either of those, she has not been seen, and she’s normally very punctual,” McIntosh said.

Police are looking for a possible suspect, whom witnesses saw in the area minutes before the fire. They also are searching for the victim’s car--California license 2GBS904.

Police are requesting that anyone with information relating to the fire call Tustin police at (714) 544-5424.