A Santa Ana man was arrested Friday evening on suspicion of killing his wife.
Police investigated the slaying of a woman, identified as 26-year-old Maria Teresa Murillo Rojas, who was found dead in her Santa Ana apartment Friday morning, May 24. Her husband, 25-year-old Fernando Jaramillo Llamas, initially was described as a person of interest before he was named as a suspect.
Family members reportedly found the woman at around 7 a.m. and called police, said police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. They responded to the home in the 1000 block of South Standard Avenue where they confirmed the woman’s death and searched inside but didn’t find anyone else there.
Police did not detail how the woman died, but investigators on scene declared it a homicide, Bertagna said.
Officials said Jaramillo Llamas left the residence before Rojas was found dead, and that he was currently out of jail on bail.
“Right now, they’ve taken the family to the station to learn about the victim. … They’re trying to get any video surveillance,” he said.
Later that morning, police detained Jaramillo Llamas after a pursuit that ended on Grand Avenue and Dyer Road.
Steven Smith, of Corona, was sitting in his white utility truck at a light on Grand Avenue waiting to turn right when he felt a jolt.
“I felt a jolt, then I felt another one,” he said. “I looked back and I see the car.”
A black Volkswagen sedan appeared like it was trying to push past his truck.
“Then I look in my rear-view mirror and see the officer draw his gun,” he said. “That scared me.”
“I think (the police) boxed him in and then he took off running under the overpass,” Smith said.
Officers chased after the man who was quickly arrested. Smith was uninjured.
“It all happened so fast,” he said.
Police said Jaramillo Llamas was transported to a local trauma center by Orange County Fire Authority for medical treatment. He was interviewed by homicide detectives and arrested.
Jaramillo Llamas was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, violation of a domestic violence court order and child endangerment.
