NewsCrime

Actions

California man arrested after mom's body found in trash bin

Posted

CAMARILLO. CALIF. (AP) — A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after his mother’s dismembered body was found in a trash container at a Southern California apartment complex, authorities said.

The remains of 62-year-old Tomoko Hoetzlein were discovered Friday morning in the trash bin next to the apartment in Camarillo where she had lived with her son, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department said.

Sheriff's detectives investigated all day, interviewing neighbors and eventually getting a search warrant for the victim's apartment, officials said.

David M. Hoetzlein was found alone inside the apartment and arrested Friday night, the sheriff's department said. It wasn't known Sunday if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Investigators did not identify a possible motive but said evidence linking Hoetzlein to the killing was recovered during the search of the apartment.

Hoetzlein remained in jail as of Saturday evening in lieu of $3 million bail, according to the Ventura County Star. He's scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, the newspaper said.



,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

02/26/2026

Partly Cloudy

72° / 57°

3%

Friday

02/27/2026

AM Clouds/PM Sun

77° / 56°

14%

Saturday

02/28/2026

Partly Cloudy

84° / 57°

7%

Sunday

03/01/2026

Mostly Sunny

79° / 53°

6%

Monday

03/02/2026

Partly Cloudy

70° / 49°

15%

Tuesday

03/03/2026

Partly Cloudy

70° / 49°

6%

Wednesday

03/04/2026

Partly Cloudy

71° / 49°

6%

Thursday

03/05/2026

Partly Cloudy

68° / 46°

16%