Oxnard : Luck Leads to Slaying Suspect
A lucky break has led to the apprehension of a murder suspect by Oxnard police.
Victor Chavez Rivera, 47, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of killing his former girlfriend earlier that day in the Northern California city of Salinas.
Alerted by the Salinas Police Department, Oxnard Officers Scott Whitney and Tim Lucas stopped by Rivera’s place of employment, an Oxnard packing plant. While they were there, Rivera called and Whitney persuaded him to turn himself in.
Rivera drove himself to the police station that night. Friday morning, Salinas officers arrived and took him to the Monterey County Jail.
Rivera is accused of suffocating Aurora Toro, 37, in her Salinas apartment. Toro, the mother of Rivera’s 1 1/2-year-old son, had been feuding with Rivera over custody, Salinas police said.
Toro’s body was discovered by a friend, Salinas police said.
Rivera will be arraigned early next week on charges of first-degree murder, police said.
Rivera’s son is staying with relatives in Oxnard, Salinas police said.
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