Man Accused of Killing His Children's Mother Faces Judge

A preliminary hearing was scheduled today for a young man accused of killing the mother of his children and stashing her body under a bed in the garage of their Oceanside home.

Arturo Salazar, 24, is charged with murder in the June death of 21-year- old Edith Garcia. The couple lived together as boyfriend and girlfriend, and had two young children together.

A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether there's enough evidence to warrant ordering Salazar to stand trial. If convicted, he faces 26 years to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Around noon June 13, officers went to the couple's residence in the 300 block of Leeward Court to check on Garcia at the request of family members who had be unable to contact her, Oceanside police Sgt. Matt Christensen said.

Salazar answered the door and said he did not know the woman's whereabouts, according to the sergeant. The officers then searched the premises and found Garcia's body hidden from view in a garage area being used as a makeshift bedroom, he said.

Detectives questioned Salazar, who allegedly confessed that he had killed Garcia during an argument the day before officers discovered her body.

It was unclear whether the couple's two children witnessed their mother's slaying or its aftermath. Their custody was turned over to their grandparents following Salazar's arrest.

He was booked into the George Bailey Detention Facility in lieu of $5 million bail.

-- City News Service