Murder Victim’s Body Is Dumped on New Tollway

A 37-year-old man who apparently had just been shot to death at an apartment complex was dumped at the new Foothill Transportation Corridor on Tuesday, authorities said.

The victim, whose name was not released, was spotted by a passing motorist at 10:50 a.m. on the northbound side of the tollway, just south of Portola Parkway in Lake Forest, said Sheriff’s Sgt. David Remender.

A portion of the tollway’s northbound lanes were closed for more than four hours by detectives investigating the area. A California Highway Patrol spokesman said the closure caused no traffic problems.

Remender said investigators assume the victim was murdered about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Vista Del Lago apartments at 21622 Marguerite Parkway.

“We haven’t absolutely confirmed that the two situations are related but we are pretty sure they are,” Remender said. “We think it’s the same person.”

About 20 minutes before the body was discovered, authorities were called by a woman in the complex who said she overheard three males arguing, then heard what she thought was a gunshot.

“She said she then saw what looked like two guys helping a guy into a late model brown Nissan Pathfinder or similar car,” Remender said. “One of the men then got into the car and drove off with the victim and the second man drove off behind them in a cream-colored Ford Bronco.”

The suspects remain at large and neither vehicle has been found.

Two months ago, a 25-year-old woman and her 5-month-old son were found murdered in their apartment in the same complex.