Woman’s Body Found in Eagle Rock, Local Man Arrested

August 17, 2006

Los Angeles: Detectives arrested a local man for murder after they followed tire tracks from a dead woman’s body on a street in Eagle Rock to a man’s house a few blocks away.

Around 1:30 this morning, August 16, 2006, a resident coming home from work found the woman’s dead body lying on the street, in the 5200 block of Loleta Avenue in Eagle Rock.

Los Angeles Fire paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. She was initially described as Caucasian and between 30 and 40 years old. Her body was nearly nude. The cause of death was not immediately apparent. The coroner’s office later identified her as a 42-year-old Hispanic woman, whose name was withheld pending notification to her family.

"We will have to wait for the coroner’s examination before we know how the woman died," said LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Paul Vernon. "There is no doubt, though, that she was a victim of foul play."

Uniformed officers noticed a distinct tire trail leading from the woman’s body, north to Hill Drive, then west to Vincent Street. The trail lead directly to 5127 Vincent Street, the home of David Deltoro, 50, who is a Los Angeles City Fire Captain.

Deltoro was detained at his home soon after the woman’s body was found, then booked on murder charges around 3:00 PM by Robbery Homicide detectives. Deltoro’s bail was set at $1 million.

Anyone with information is asked to call Robbery Homicide Division at 213-485-2129. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-817-529-3855).