Hollister
– Authorities have identified the woman whose body was found
along a residential road on the city’s west side Friday morning as
Christella Macias, a 20-year-old Hollister resident.
Hollister – Authorities have identified the woman whose body was found along a residential road on the city’s west side Friday morning as Christella Macias, a 20-year-old Hollister resident.
Police continue to investigate the city’s third homicide in four months and the fifth in the past year.
An autopsy Monday determined blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death, Capt. Bob Brooks said.
Brooks declined to comment on details of the Hollister Police Department’s investigation but said authorities don’t have a suspect or person of interest in the case.
Macias’ family, meanwhile, held a car wash Monday on Tres Pinos Road next to Gold’s Gym to raise money for funeral expenses.
Chente Lovato, her cousin, stood along Tres Pinos Road holding a sign with a picture of Macias advertising the fundraiser.
He said he missed his cousin.
“I love her and I wish she was here,” Lovato said. “We all miss her.”
While the family has reeled over her death, police have revealed little about the suspected homicide, including whether sexual assault might have been involved.
Josh Wardell found Macias’ body when he pulled out of his driveway to go to work, he said Friday. Wardell said the woman’s clothes were pulled up to her neck and wrapped around her head.
What made the discovery even more stunning was her body’s location on a neighborhood road at the dead end of C Street.
“Obviously, it was left in a very conspicuous place,” Brooks said.
While on the phone with Wardell, dispatchers told him to open the trash bag that was covering Macias’ head, he said.
At the time of the call, police did not know Macias’ condition, Brooks said.
“It wouldn’t have been good if we’d shown up and found she’d suffocated and something could have been done to save her,” Brooks said.
Of the three homicides this year, police have apprehended only one suspect.
Authorities arrested 25-year-old San Jose resident Samuel Turner on suspicion of murdering Elizabeth Gomez on March 13.
On June 8, Angel Romero, a 16-year-old Salinas resident, was shot twice while riding in a car in the 300 block of Chappell Road, officers said. Romero died the following day at a Bay Area hospital. Investigators believe a car load of five Norteños fired a high-powered, automatic rifle into the car. Police have not identified any suspects.
“They’re still interviewing people, but as of now not much has come out,” said officer Rosie Betanio, a spokeswoman for the department.
