Police have identified a man, who they suspect may have gone to Mexico, as a person of interest in the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old woman whose body was found in an alley in Santa Ana Tuesday night.
Detectives want to question Luis Antonio Garcia Morales, who they suspect lured the woman into an alley not far from his home. The pair is believed to have had a relationship that Morales tried to rekindle.
Morales apparently told his family that he was going to Mexico "for family reasons," investigators said. He is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 180 pounds and having black hair and brown eyes.
The woman's body was found Tuesday night in the alley, which is located between homes near North Laurel and Susan streets (MAP) in Santa Ana. She was identified Wednesday morning as Maria Isabel Cerrillo (pictured, right), 21, of Santa Ana.
"We're looking for anyone who may have seen something or an altercation where a female was being dragged back toward this alley," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. "The street just south of here is a busy street."
The victim's vehicle was found near the alley. She had been stabbed multiple times in the upper body, police said.
At 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, police received calls from residents who reported screams and the sound of someone running through the alley.
Police have made no arrests. Authorities did not have information regarding a motive.
"This community lost a true, honest, sincere person -- she was the spark of the family," said Ericka Calvo, a family friend.
Anyone with information was asked to call Santa Ana Police Homicide Detectives at 714-245-8390.
