29-Year-Old Female Murdered in the San Fernando Area NR10023rh

January 16, 2010

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has arrested the suspect in the murder of 29-year-old Lupe Fernandez, a resident of San Fernando.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at around 9:30 p.m., a citizen walked in to the Mission Area Community Police Station and reported the body of a possible murder victim who was found inside a Sylmar residence.  Officers were directed to a residence in the 14800 block of Cobalt Street.  During a welfare check of the residence, officers discovered the body of a dead female that was stuffed into a large plastic trash container located inside the garage of the residence.  During the investigation, officer’s learned of a possible second crime scene located inside a Tattoo Parlor in the 8900 block of Woodman Avenue in the city of Arleta.

Mission Homicide Detectives responded and conducted the investigation. Detectives identified the murder victim found at the Cobalt address as 29-year-old Lupe Fernandez, a resident of San Fernando.  Detectives are investigating Lupe Fernandez’ death as a murder.  Further investigation at the Tattoo Parlor revealed an assault had taken place inside the business sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and 7:30 a.m. the following day.  Detectives are investigating the possibility of both crime scenes to be connected in the murder of Lupe Fernandez.  The victim’s cause of death is believed to be blunt force trauma.  

Mission Homicide detectives identified the victim’s current boyfriend, 33-year old Louie Mendoza, as the suspect in the murder.  Mendoza was employed by the tattoo parlor as a tattoo artist.  Mendoza was arrested inside the Cobalt address by SWAT officers after a long stand-off.  Detectives booked Louie Mendoza for the murder of girlfriend, Lupe Fernandez.  Mendoza is being held in lieu of 1 million dollar bail.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call Mission Homicide detectives at 818-838-9810 or 818-838-9800.  During non-business hours or on weekends calls should be directed to 1-877
LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.