Slaying Suspect Is Found With a Body in His SUV

A man suspected of killing his wife and setting her house on fire in Long Beach last weekend was arrested Monday in San Diego with a woman’s body in his sport utility vehicle.

Police said they believed Dante Caldejon, 50, was heading for Mexico. Officers found him about noon parked at the Mission Bay Visitor Information Center.

“He got out, he identified himself with his driver’s license,” said Lt. Jim Duncan of the San Diego Police Department. “He said his wife was in the car.” The officers “got permission to search the car, and at that point they found the body.”

The body, which police believe is that of Caldejon’s estranged wife, Ofelia Gahol, 50, was under a blanket on the rear floorboard.

Caldejon is suspected of setting a fire Sunday at Gahol’s home that severely burned her 20-year-old son and led to the hospitalization of five other relatives for minor burns and smoke inhalation, said Nancy Pratt, a spokeswoman for the Long Beach Police Department.

The son has burns over at least 45% of his body and was in critical condition Monday, according to a spokeswoman for Sherman Oaks Hospital.

Caldejon called relatives about 4 a.m. Sunday and said he had killed his wife and was taking her to Mexico, said Long Beach Police Sgt. Paul Le Baron.

Police also suspect Caldejon may have tried to set fire to the Stanton residence of Gahol’s relatives, Pratt said. Family members told police they saw Caldejon about an hour after the Long Beach fire. Two red gasoline containers were later discovered nearby.

An autopsy will be conducted today on the body.