A man found dead of an apparent suicide Sunday in the Gaviota area was the suspect in a double homicide in the city of Anaheim, according to police.
The body of Jorge Pino, 57, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was discovered at Gaviota State Park, Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim Police Department told Noozhawk on Monday.
Pino is suspected of fatally shooting his former girlfriend, Maria Ernestina Ramirez, 47, and her new boyfriend, Efrain Hernandez-Ramirez, 40, whose bodies were found early Sunday morning in an apartment in Anaheim, Carringer said.
Pino and Ramirez “had been in a romantic relationship for a number of years that had ended in last couple of months,” Carringer said.
Anaheim police had notified law enforcement agencies throughout the state that they were looking for Pino and his vehicle, which was discovered at Gaviota State Park.
His body was found a short time later, and Pino “suffered what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Carringer said.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies responded at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday to Gaviota State Beach, where a body had been found, according to Raquel Zick, a department spokeswoman. She added in a tweet that the person was an apparent suicide victim.
“There is a strong possibility Pino was responsible for the murders,” Carringer said, adding that investigators do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the public at large.
Investigation into the slayings was continuing, Carringer said, and anyone who had contact with Pino or has other information is asked to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.857.6227.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.