Couple Convicted Of Killing, Dumping Body In Lake
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A California couple face life in prison for killing a man at a 2008 New Year's Eve party and dumping his body in a lake.
Riverside County jurors last week convicted 34-year-old Jason Howard Runnels and 30-year-old Lucia Janet Martinez of first-degree murder for the beating death of 33-year-old Rick Macias of Brea. They will be sentenced April 5.
Prosecutors say Runnels and Martinez were attending a New Year's Eve party in Poppet Flats, which is south of Banning, when they ran into Macias at the same party.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise says Macias and Runnels, who had met in prison, got into an argument at the party and Macias was later reported missing. His body was found floating in Lake Fulmor near Idyllwild.
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