Former MH resident charged in Sacramento killing
A suspect in San Jose and Sacramento murders was arrested Wednesday morning in Morgan Hill after his girlfriend called police.
Juan Carlos Victoria, 36, of Sacramento, was taken into custody without incident a short time after police arrived while on foot at Cochrane and Half roads. When stopped, police said he offered false identification information.
The arrest stems from a May 17 murder when police allege Victoria shot Miguel Funez, 48, of Sacramento, following an argument about a parking space. Police said Victoria shot Funez, who died at the scene, in the head with a shotgun.
Funez lived with Victoria along with several other tenants at a home in southern Sacramento.
The woman, who police would not identify, reported at 9:42am that she had been assaulted by Victoria in the Toyon picnic area of Anderson Dam Park east of the city, Morgan Hill Police Lt. Joe Sampson said Thursday.
Police described the woman, who had suffered a minor injury to her cheek, as hysterical.
When officers arrived, she told them she had been abducted by Victoria after witnessing him kill Funez, Sampson said.
The woman had waited for two or three hours after Victoria left her at the park before calling police.
“Usually they have to weigh the pluses and minuses of calling police,” Sampson said. “She knew he would be prosecuted and may be going a way for a long time. She may have had to do a little soul searching.”
Sampson said she did not seek medical treatment.
Victoria was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on the murder charge and several warrants from other agencies on unrelated charges. He was transferred Thursday afternoon to Sacramento.
Sampson said in a press release that information was obtained that may link Victoria to other homicides in different jurisdictions.
Sacramento and San Jose police detectives interviewed Victoria and the woman in Morgan Hill on Wednesday night.
The woman was released Wednesday night without charges.
Sampson said Victoria formerly lived in Morgan Hill and the San Jose area before he moved to Sacramento.
“He is familiar with area and I believe he knew he was being sought by the Sacramento Police Department so he thought it best to leave Sacramento,” Sampson said.
San Jose police spokesman Enrique Garcia said Friday he would not comment on open investigations and referred all comment to Sacramento authorities.
