Watch CBS News

Man Accused Of Murdering Roommate Speaks Out From Jail

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — An Orange man accused of killing his roommate and disposing of her body in an unincorporated area of the Santa Ana Mountains spoke out Tuesday for the first time since his arrest.

Against the advice of his attorney, 54-year-old KC Joy spoke exclusively to CBS2's Stacey Butler in an audio interview from jail.

Joy is accused of murdering Ramos sometime between May 2 and May 3 and disposing her body off Santiago Canyon Road in a remote area in Modjeska Canyon.

Asked if he killed 36-year-old Maribel Ramos, a Cal State Fullerton student and Iraq War veteran, Joy said "hell, no."

Cameras were not allowed in the jail, but Joy consented to an audio interview to send a message to the victim's family, whom he still considers his own.

"I'm innocent," said Joy. "I don't want them to wait until this trial is to go, wondering year later and find out he was guilty, he's not guilty. I don't want them to wait for that. So I want the family to hear it from me."

Joy said he is not suicidal, despite being held in isolation and recently released from suicide watch.

"If I commit suicide it means I'm admitting I'm guilty," said Joy.

In the interview, Joy repeatedly referred to Ramos as his best friend and his family. At one point he even referred to her as his "dream."

Asked if he was worried that detectives may have found his DNA under Maribel's fingernails, Joy said "I have no idea."

"I don't know what they did, how they found. I have no idea," he said.

When he was asked about the heated conversation the two reportedly had on the night she disappeared, Joy ended the interview.

Authorities believe Ramos asked Joy, who was reportedly not paying rent, to move out of her Orange home the day she went missing.

RELATED STORIES:

New Details Emerge As Roommate Is Charged With Murder Of Fullerton Student

In Murder Of Cal State Fullerton War Vet, New Details On What Suspect Told Police

Body Identified As Missing Fullerton Student, Roommate Arrested For Her Murder

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.