Phone Tip Leads to Body in Closet NR15160ar

Panorama City: Los Angeles Police Department Mission Area front desk officer received a call from a citizen on Monday, May 4, 2015, and told police that she heard of somebody trying to dispose of a body in the 8700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard.

Mission Area Homicide detectives took the call and immediately followed up on the tip. The investigation led detectives to an apartment building, where they discovered the body of a 48-year-old female, deceased in a closet. It appears the female had been there for a few days.

It appears the victim and the male suspect were roommates, and he was in the process of evicting the victim. This caused a number of arguments between the victim and suspect, ultimately resulting in the victim’s death.

“The suspect and witnesses in this case, including the citizen who initially called the front desk, are all cooperating with police and providing information” said Lt. Kathleen Burns, Commanding Officer of the Mission Detective Division. “What is interesting about this incident is that it started with a phone call to the front desk and detectives had to put together the pieces of the puzzle to just find the body.”

The suspect, Mario Villalobos was arrested and booked for Murder. His bail is set at $1,000,000.00.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact Detective Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Detectives at (818) 838-9948. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.