Father’s Grisly Discovery Leads to Arrest of His Son

Redondo Beach police Monday were investigating the case of a 34-year-old man who allegedly killed his girlfriend during an argument, hid the victim in a cardboard carton, rented a truck and drove to Texas with the body.

The suspect, identified as D.C. Trainer, was arrested in Houston on Sunday when his father discovered the decomposing body of Theresa D. Lawson, 35, in the U-Haul truck and called police.

“We are going to pursue the case under California law,” said Redondo Beach Police Lt. John Nelson. He said he expected Redondo Beach officers to leave for Texas this week to bring Trainer back.

In Houston, homicide Sgt. Wayne Wendel said Trainer told police he had argued with his girlfriend Feb. 11 in the apartment they shared in Redondo Beach and hit her with a vase, killing her.

“He panicked and didn’t know what to do,” Wendel said. “So, he decided to move back to Texas.”

According to Wendel, Trainer rented a truck the next day, wrapped the box containing the body in plastic, loaded his belongings and drove nonstop to Houston. He arrived at his father’s business Friday, where he stayed.

Wendel said Trainer’s father became suspicious when the victim’s mother telephoned from California asking about her daughter. Also noticing a foul odor coming from the truck, the father looked inside and discovered the body, Wendel said.

The couple apparently met in a Long Beach bar about nine months ago and moved into an apartment together, Nelson said. A friend had reported Lawson missing before her body was found in Houston, he said.