Police said Tuesday that a woman whose body was found in a refrigerator at a recently vacated rented garage in Santa Ana died about a year and a half ago, and they are awaiting toxicology test results to pinpoint the cause.
Ricarda Reyes-Villalobos, who was believed to be about 50 years old, was identified by her relatives, according to Santa Ana police, who said they will work with Mexican authorities on a formal identification.
An autopsy was completed Tuesday on her remains.
“There were no signs of significant trauma to indicate homicide,” Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which will take roughly six to eight weeks to complete, before determining whether any criminal charges are warranted, he said.
After discovering the body, police tracked down the relatives who had cared for Reyes-Villalobos, he said. The man and woman — their exact relationship to Reyes-Villalobos was not disclosed — told police they didn’t report her death because they were worried about their immigration status, according to Bertagna.
Officers were called to a home in the 1000 block of North Jackson Street on Dec. 17. The home has a garage and another structure in the back where rooms were being rented. The most recent residents of the garage moved out and left the refrigerator, police said.
As the residence was being tidied up, the cleaners opened the refrigerator and discovered the body.
— City News Service