Suspect in Killing of Woman Found Buried in Valinda Yard Is Fugitive Santeria ... - KTLA
Investigators found a human skull and deemed the case a murder investigation. The man wanted in Chavez’s killing was identified as Pablo Pinto Mata, 46. He may also go by Juan Diego or El Padrino, according to a wanted flier distributed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which was investigating. In a news release , the department said that Chavez got to know Mata by patronizing a botanica he owned in the 2400 block of Whittier Boulevard in Montebello. 6 , Montebello police identified Mata as a suspect in the rape of a 16-year-old girl who came into his shop in late 2013. He allegedly forced the girl to disrobe and then raped her, telling her the assault was part of a healing ritual that he was... Mata conducted "healing rituals" at the botanica, Los Angeles Imports, police said. Though Mata was married with a family, he and Chavez had a romantic relationship and then a daughter together, the sheriff's news release stated. Mata was a "Santeria spiritualist" to Chavez, and the pair were business partners, the Sheriff's Department stated. Her Honda Civic was found on Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific. Source: ktla.com
