Daniel Allen Aldrich, 49, of Costa Mesa, was arrested on Tuesday at the home of a family member on the 3700 block of El Lado Drive in Glendale, about 10 miles north of Los Angeles.
Costa Mesa police allege that Aldrich killed his girlfriend, Julie Anne Santera, 38, of Irvine, at his house on the 1900 block of Maple Avenue in Costa Mesa, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles.
“At the start of the investigation, Aldrich was identified as the suspect and located in Glendale,” Costa Mesa police posted Wednesday on social media.
The Glendale Police Department assisted the Costa Mesa police in the arrest of the suspect at his family member’s house Tuesday evening.
“Detectives were able to establish that the arrestee and the victim were in a relationship,” Costa Mesa police said in the social media post.
The Costa Mesa Police Department received a call at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The caller told police they had found the woman’s body in the backyard of a home on Maple Avenue.
Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue and police responded to the scene.
Releasing the identities of the victim and the suspect was delayed Tuesday until authorities could notify the victim’s family of her death.
The investigation is ongoing.
Costa Mesa Police Department has forwarded the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.
