Arizona Man Arrested in Connection With Woman Whose Body Was Found in California in Her Car’s Trunk

An Arizona man has been arrested after police say they found a missing woman’s body in the trunk of a car in California.

On the morning of Nov. 6, officials from the Holbrook Police Department said the family of 54-year-old Christi Romero reported her missing from Arizona.

According to police, her vehicle, a 1995 Plymouth Neon, was also nowhere to be found. They also said the “circumstances surrounding Christi’s disappearance are suspicious in nature.”

Investigators determined that 34-year-old Richard Rodriguez allegedly “forced his way into Christi’s residence and forced her to leave,” officials said. They also believed Rodriguez had Romero’s 9 mm pistol in his possession.

In an effort to try and find Romero, police posted photos of her, Rodriguez and the stolen vehicle online.

Around 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 6, officers from the Huntington Beach Police Department responded to a call regarding a “family disturbance.”

Once at the scene, police discovered a dead adult female at the scene, authorities said.

Romero’s body was found in the trunk of a parked sedan near the home, KTLA-TV reported.

Her cause of death is unknown, but police arrested Rodriguez on suspicion of Romero’s murder.

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Huntington Beach police said the couple may have been dating. Romero reportedly filed a protective order against Rodriguez several days before her body was found, KABC-TV reported.

While authorities would not confirm what Rodriguez was doing in Huntington Beach, they did say he may have family or friends in the area.

The investigation is ongoing.