Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
A Ventura County man was charged Tuesday of the murder of the Hispanic José Velásquez, whose remains were found in October in the Santa Monica mountains.
Rotherie Durell Foster, 37, was named as a suspect in killing Velasquez, 35.according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Foster was a work acquaintance of Velásquez and, according to the authorities, he allegedly killed the Hispanic for financial gain.
In 2016, Velásquez moved from Honduras to the Simi Valley area, where he worked as a plumber, the Los Angeles Times reported. After earning his general contractor’s license in 2021, he moved into an apartment in Camarillo.
On July 27, Velásquez disappeared. after his family said he was enjoying drinks with friends near Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks.
The Hispanic’s work van was found about four miles from the mall on August 1.although it does not appear that anything was stolen from the vehicle, authorities said.
On October 3, a group of hikers found Velasquez’s remains in the Santa Monica Mountains.near Mulholland Highway.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Hispanic died from multiple gunshot wounds.
“Jose was an incredibly hard worker who was starting his own plumbing business when his life was brutally and cruelly cut short,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
“The charges filed are among the most violent and serious we see in court, and are the result of strong teamwork between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and our prosecutors,” he added.
Foster is scheduled to be arraigned this week.
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