In a shocking incident, a California bartender-turned-murder suspect has been arrested for allegedly killing a 27-year-old woman with a fire extinguisher and dumping her body in a Laguna Beach alleyway. The suspect, identified as Dino Rojas-Moreno, 26, was apprehended by the Laguna Beach Police Department and is now facing murder charges.
The victim, Tatum Goodwin, worked at Carmelita’s, a Mexican restaurant on Ocean Avenue. Orange County prosecutors have stated that Rojas-Moreno beat Goodwin to death with the fire extinguisher and then disposed of her body under a chain-link fence near a construction site.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the suspect approached Goodwin in a parking lot and assaulted her before forcefully dragging her to a secluded area behind a movie theater. The motive for the attack is still unclear, and authorities are investigating if there was any prior relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Goodwin’s body was discovered by a construction worker on the morning of November 12, leading to a homicide investigation. Rojas-Moreno failed to show up for work that same day, claiming he was attacked by several men in Santa Ana.
The owner of Carmelita’s described Goodwin as a hard-working young lady who always had a smile on her face. Her colleagues considered her a family member and are planning to create a memorial in Laguna Beach to honor her memory.
Rojas-Moreno is currently held on $1 million bail and is set to be arraigned on Monday in Orange County. The authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact the Laguna Beach Police.
This tragic incident has deeply affected the community, and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his commitment to ensuring justice is served. The loss of an innocent life has devastated the entire community, and the District Attorney’s Office aims to hold the suspect accountable for his actions.
The investigation into this brutal murder continues, and authorities are determined to bring closure to the victim’s family and friends.
