Suspect in Girl’s Strangulation Is in Custody

A suspect in the strangulation of a 17-year-old East San Diego girl has been jailed after other young women came forward to report that he had assaulted them in the past, police said.

According to police, Willie Ray Roberts Jr., 33, is a suspect in the June 14 murder of Melissa Orchulli, who was found beaten and strangled in a vacant Euclid Avenue bungalow.

Police said several other young women in the East San Diego neighborhood had reported that they had been assaulted by Roberts, who had not been seen in the area since Orchulli’s body was found.

The victim was found by a man who had entered the vacant house because he was interested in renting it.

Roberts was booked into County Jail in Chula Vista on Friday on suspicion of a parole violation.