Detectives are investigating the death of a 25-year-old mother after finding her remains in a remote, forested area near Rattlesnake Gulch Aug. 4 in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California.
Watsonville police alerted the public Saturday of their concerns over Lizbeth Arceo Sedano, of Watsonville after a confrontation with her partner, Joshua Gonzalez, 25, also of Watsonville.
Police arrested Gonzalez after they say he threatened to harm his 3-year-old daughter outside the police station at about 9:20 p.m. Saturday. The child was in the car with him when he arrived at the station.
Police say Gonzalez told a dispatcher he was armed with a knife.
Gonzalez ignored police commands, according to the Watsonville Police Department, and the officer opened fire, striking him. He remained in the hospital Tuesday, city spokeswoman Michelle Pulido told The Epoch Times.
Gonzalez faces charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer, resisting an executive order, child endangerment, and brandishing a weapon.
Officers were unable to contact Sedano after the incident but connected with her family, according to the police statement. Her family told officers it was unusual for her not to answer the phone or text messages.
Police then asked for the public’s help finding her.
On Sunday morning, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of a body found at the corner of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road, a remote forested area in the county.
Sedano’s remains were identified, and her death is being investigated by the sheriff’s office as suspicious. The sheriff’s office is waiting for forensic evidence to be returned before releasing a cause of death.
“Detectives are going over evidence,” public information officer Ashley Keehn told The Epoch Times. “We do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the community. This was an isolated incident.”
Child protective services was called after Gonzalez was arrested Saturday, which is usual procedure for such cases, according to Pulido. But after contacting the mother’s family, the daughter was released to them.
“She’s OK,” Pulido said. “She was unharmed during all of this.”
Police officials offered condolences Sunday.
“On behalf of the Watsonville Police Department, we want to express our condolences to Lizbeth’s family and friends during this very difficult time,” the Watsonville Police Department wrote on Facebook.
