Mummified body of man wanted in stabbing death found near Salton Sea

The mummified body of an Upland man wanted in the stabbing death of his roommate has been found in a car near the Salton Sea, authorities said Monday.

Workers at a nearby ranch were clearing debris from a wash area with a bulldozer Saturday when they spotted an abandoned blue Nissan Sentra, investigators said. The car appeared to have been parked there for awhile because there were no visible tracks around, said Lt. George Moreno of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department.

The man was slumped in the driver’s seat with all the windows shut. Papers in his wallet identified him as Javier D. Robinson.

“The body was in a state of mummification,” Moreno said. “We haven’t had the hot weather lately. If it had been the summer, he would have melted into that seat, and we would only have bones and clothes left.”

Robinson, 30, was accused of stabbing and killing Chava Barrasa, 34. Both men lived in a state-run halfway house serving violent offenders with severe mental illnesses.

Robinson allegedly stabbed Barrasa in January and stole another roommate’s car. Robinson had vanished until Saturday's gruesome discovery.

Investigators had not determined how he died, but they found rat poison in the trunk of the car.

“In the past, he had tried to commit suicide using rat poison,” Moreno said. “I don’t know if he took it or just lay down and died.”

-- Ching-Ching Ni

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

In response to more child deaths, L.A. supervisor renews call for updated computer system

Republican funds spent at risque West Hollywood nightclub; investigation launched

Frank and Jamie McCourt appear at court hearing that highlights their lavish lifestyle

San Francisco International Airport takes video jab at LAX. Or not.

Comments

[Sandy]

Well if it is the killer, may the family of the man killed find some sort of closeure. I can't imagine dying by taking rat poison.

[Texas140]

What are you thinking letting violent criminals with severe mental illnesses live in a halfway house?
Isn't that asking for horror to happen?
Ought they not be incarcerated individually for their own, and other's safety?

[Rick]

He gave himself the death penalty. Oh well, don't have to worry with a long trial. Taking rat poison, what a way to go.

[paulman]

2 problems solved.

[MikeR]

Even though Javier is my brother, it's kinda weird to know that he's dead. My family never let me get to know him because of his mental state. He put my sister into a coma by beating her with an aluminum bat, which is the reason for him being in the half-way house. Guess this violent act shouldn't come to that much of a surprise.

[Tricia]

Javier was my cousin. He was always kind of mischevious as a kid, but got into drugs at a very young age which I believe was the source of many of his mental disorders. He became a troubled and tortured soul. I guess he was just tired of causing harm to people, as Mike said he'd put my cousin (their sister) into a coma. She still has short term memory problems to this day. I feel so sorry for the Barrasa family and their loss as well. My sincere condolences.