Boy Arrested in Mother’s Killing After Police Find Him in Her Car

The 13-year-old adopted son of a woman bludgeoned to death in her Santa Ana home nearly three weeks ago was arrested in Carson, where he was found sitting in his mother’s missing car, Santa Ana police said Saturday.

The boy, whom police did not identify because he is a juvenile, was arrested without incident late Friday afternoon in General Scott Park, police said. He reportedly had been missing since the slaying Aug. 1 of Mary Gunn Esquivel, 52, in her home in the 1400 block of North Louise Street.

Neighbors identified the victim’s son as Gregory, who they thought was 14. Several said the woman adored the boy.

Sgt. Joe Esther said that during their investigation, police identified their suspect and on Friday received information on his whereabouts. Homicide investigators went to the Carson park and found him sitting in Esquivel’s car, he said.

Esquivel’s 1985 Lincoln Continental had been missing and was considered stolen at the time of the slaying, according to police, who originally identified the victim as Mary Gunn. Esquivel apparently is her maiden name, said neighbors, who also knew her as Mary Gunn.

The boy was taken to police headquarters for questioning and then transferred to Orange County Juvenile Hall, Esther said. He was arrested on suspicion of homicide, he said.

Lt. Gregory Cooper said no further information was immediately available on the weapon or motive for the bludgeoning.

Police were tipped to the killing by an anonymous caller just before midnight Aug. 1. The caller said someone might have been killed at the North Louise Street address. Police did not find the murder weapon at the scene but said the victim had been beaten with a blunt object.

Esquivel worked during the day at an insurance company and had just bought Rigo’s Mexican Restaurant in Anaheim, where she worked at night, said a neighbor, Lupe Gonzales.

“She wanted to be able to retire early and not have to worry financially,” Gonzales said.

Upon hearing that the boy had been arrested in her neighbor’s death, Gonzales’ eyes filled with tears.

“I’ve been praying” for an arrest in the case, she said. “No human being should do that to another human being, no matter who it is.”

‘He Was Lonely’

Neighbors recalled that when Esquivel and her son moved in four years ago, they often saw Gregory in the front yard, apparently hungry for companionship.

“I think he was very lonely when they first came,” said neighbor Sabra Russell. Because Esquivel was busy working, Gregory was alone after school, but Esquivel at one point hired a sitter for him, she recalled.

“He would come home from school and if the sitter was not there, he’d be out in front, walking up and down. He was lonely and she was at work,” she said. She had not seen Gregory recently, she said.

His mother “adored him, I heard,” Russell said.

Gonzales said she had heard some people refer to Gregory as a “troubled child,” but she did not think of him that way. “I don’t know, maybe I was naive,” she said. “He was always like a loner. He would stay in the front yard for hours sometimes.”

Asked if Gregory is capable of driving a car, Gonzales recalled that the boy once drove a large pickup truck back and forth on the driveway and damaged her planter. Her neighbor eventually sold the truck, Gonzales said.

Esquivel “loved him very much, and she was concerned about him all the time,” Gonzales said.