DNA Leads to Arrest in Slaying of Oxnard Teen

An 18-year-old former Oxnard man was arrested this week in connection with the February execution-style slaying of another teenager, with DNA evidence providing the breakthrough in the case, police said Friday.

Marcelle Williams was taken into custody Thursday in Northern California on suspicion of murder.

The victim, Joshua Pelaya, 18, was found shot to death in his parents’ Oxnard home on Glacier Avenue on Feb. 22. Pelaya, who knew Williams, had been shot twice in the back of the head.

“Obviously we’re ecstatic,” Oxnard Police Cmdr. Brian MacDonald said of the arrest. “This was a long, tedious investigation that has proved very fruitful.”

Oxnard police had theorized that Pelaya knew his killer because there was no sign of forced entry at the house.

The motive for the slaying appears to be personal, authorities said, but declined to elaborate.

Hours after the shooting, police obtained a search warrant for Williams’ home in Oxnard. Williams told officers that he was nowhere near the Pelaya house when the shooting occurred, Sgt. Jim Seitz said.

But an analysis completed in August showed DNA evidence collected at Williams’ home matched the victim’s blood. Armed with this new information, police sought an arrest warrant for Williams, who had moved to Hayward in Alameda County the day after the slaying.

On Wednesday, Alameda County sheriff’s officials arrested Williams without incident. He is expected to be brought to Ventura County within five days and arraigned shortly thereafter.

Also Friday, police announced the arrest of Ernesto Madrid, 31, of Oxnard on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery in an Aug. 5 home invasion that left a gunshot victim with life-threatening injuries.