In a shocking incident in Santa Rosa, California, a 64-year-old grandmother has been identified as the victim of a gruesome beheading. The severed head of Elvia Lopez-Arroyo was found near a stream two days after her own grandson allegedly decapitated her and fled with her head, according to authorities. The Santa Rosa resident was discovered dead inside her home last week, prompting officers to respond to a possible homicide report.
Although the decapitated head was not found at the crime scene, police revealed that multiple weapons were discovered inside the home. However, further testing is needed to determine the murder weapon and the specific types of weapons found. Investigators have determined that the victim’s 23-year-old grandson, Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez, carried out a targeted attack before leaving the scene with her head.
The disturbing discovery took an even more chilling turn when detectives located the victim’s head on the south bank of the Santa Rosa Creek near the Prince Memorial Greenway. Aroyo-Lopez, who had a “420” and marijuana leaf tattoo on the left side of his head, was apprehended in San Francisco after being spotted by local police at the Transbay Transit Center on Mission Street. It was later revealed that he had recently been released from state prison, where he had been serving time for assault with a deadly weapon and weapons possession charges.
Aroyo-Lopez now faces charges of murder and violating post-release community supervision. Due to his violent criminal history and the seriousness of the charges, he has been denied bail and remains in custody. The previous charges were unrelated to the homicide incident involving his grandmother.
The shocking nature of this brutal crime has left the community of Santa Rosa in shock. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather all the necessary evidence and information relating to the case.
