Missing Person Found Dead, Suspect Arrested

"Missing Person Found Dead, Suspect Arrested"
 

Los Angeles: On May 31, 2002, two friends of Peter Cruz, a 21 year-old resident of Northridge, responded to the Cruz residence after being unable to contact him over a period of four days. The friends knocked on the door, but no one answered. They peered through a window and observed what they thought to be signs of a possible struggle inside the apartment. The friends then notified the Los Angeles Police Department.
On May 31, 2002, two friends of Peter Cruz, a 21 year-old resident of Northridge, responded to the Cruz residence after being unable to contact him over a period of four days. The friends knocked on the door, but no one answered. They peered through a window and observed what they thought to be signs of a possible struggle inside the apartment. The friends then notified the Los Angeles Police Department.
Responding officers gained entrance to the apartment and observed tangible signs of apparent foul play, however, Mr. Cruz was no where to be found. The officers further found out that his vehicle had been impounded from private property in Panorama City on May 31, 2002.
Devonshire Homicide detectives have assumed responsibility for the missing person investigation and have determined that an apparent assault occurred inside the apartment during the early morning hours of May 29, which likely resulted in great bodily injury to an involved party.
**UPDATE**
As a result of the on-going investigation, detectives identified Robert Wynn, a 23 year-old Filipino gang member as the suspect in this case. Search and arrest warrants were served at his North Hills residence on July 24, 2002. Suspect Wynn was absent from his residence, however, information was obtained that led to the identification of follow-up location in the City of Berkeley, California.
With the cooperation of the Oakland Police Department, Wynn was arrested on Wednesday, July 24, 2002, in Berkeley. Suspect Wynn was transported back to Los Angeles on Thursday, July 25, 2002.
Further information led the detectives to the location of human remains in a remote area of the Angeles Crest Forest above La Canada/Flintridge.
On Friday, July 26, 2002, a joint effort by Devonshire Homicide detectives, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Montrose Search and Rescue Team, resulted in the recovery of human remains along the Angeles Crest Highway.
The remains are believed to be those of Victim Peter Cruz, however, a formal identification is pending.
Suspect Wynn remains in custody. The motive for the murder appears to be a gang related robbery. This case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, July 29, 2002.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.