LANCASTER, Calif.—A 37-year-old man was behind bars Dec. 23 in connection with the death of a woman whose charred body was found in the trunk of a car in the Quartz Hill neighborhood of Lancaster in Los Angeles County.
Matthew Switalski was arrested around 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Kern County and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s officials said Mr. Switalski owns the home in the 41400 block of 38th Street West where the body was found around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when fire crews extinguished a fire in the garage.
The body of the woman, whose name and age were withheld pending notification of her next of kin, was found in the trunk of a car that was parked in the garage, sheriff’s officials said. A cause of death has not been released.
Neighbors told reporters the woman was a teacher, and the suspect is believed to be her boyfriend.
The family has identified the victim as Veronica Aguilar, 27, a UCLA graduate and elementary school teacher. They have set up a GoFundMe page, gofund.me/e834647b, to help with funeral expenses.
“My little sister Veronica was taken from us on December 20 2023 [and] her story is all over the news of her brutal death,” her brother, Juan Aguilar, wrote. “Things will never be the same ever again. We miss her so much. She had the best spirit she always had a smile. My family is heartbroken. My sister Veronica was so smart. She was an elementary school teacher, a UCLA graduate, and an amazing person in all. With your help, we can give my sister Veronica the proper funeral she deserves.”
As of late Saturday, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $19,000 toward a goal of $20,000.
Meanwhile, Mr. Switalski was being held in lieu of $10 million bail, according to court records. Jail records show he was previously arrested in May for an unspecified felony.
Mr. Switalski is a former Northrop Grumman employee, ABC7 reported.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
