Suspect charged with murder of woman found dead in vitamin store

An ex-convict was charged with capital murder Wednesday in connection with the death of a woman found bound and gagged inside a Huntington Park vitamin store.

Arturo Bejarano Jr., 50, is suspected of killing Veronica Hurtado De Reyes, named as Veronica Urtado Reyes in the criminal complaint. The 39-year-old Los Angeles resident was working at the Global Nature vitamin store when she was discovered dead inside on March 15. Prosecutors say that Bejarano has prior burglary convictions in Texas.

County Coroner's Lt. Fred Corral said an autopsy was performed and the case was ruled a “homicide due to multiple injures.” Corral said it was not clear what kind of injures were sustained.

Bejarano was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance of murder during a robbery, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said in a statement.

The suspect was arrested Monday and is being held without bail. He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon and prosecutors said they will decide later whether to seek the death penalty.

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-- Matt Stevens
twitter.com/mattstevenslat

Image: Approximate location of the incident is shown in purple, along with 95 other homicides since 2007 within two miles of the scene. Credit: Los Angeles Times Homicide Report