O.C. Man Charged in Death of Stepson
A Santa Ana man, who police say was jealous of the attention his wife lavished on her son, was formally charged Tuesday with the 14-year-old boy’s murder.
Francisco M. Gonzalez, 58, is accused of beating to death Mario Espinobarros, a freshman at Santa Ana High School. The boy’s body was found in a ditch near Irvine last week, and the stepfather was later arrested.
Gonzalez remained in Orange County Jail on Tuesday night in lieu of $250,000 bail. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26.
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