Crime & Safety
Teens to Stand Trial in Case of Body Found in SUV
Christopher Waters' remains were discovered in Miraleste on April 23. Jose Martinez and Adrian Berumen are charged with murder in connection to Waters' death.
Two 18-year-olds were ordered Monday to stand trial for the murder of a Long Beach man whose body was found inside an SUV that had been set on fire in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Jose Angel Martinez of Compton and Adrian Berumen are each charged with one count of murder. Martinez is additionally charged with one count of felony arson, while Beruman is facing two such counts.
Berumen, who was 17 at the time of the victim's death, is being prosecuted as an adult.
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The body of Christopher Waters, 42, was found in the flaming SUV at 30100 Miraleste Drive at 2:30 p.m. on April 23. The victim's feet were bound and a cord was wrapped around his neck, according to a sheriff's deputy.
Four days after Waters' remains were discovered, Berumen walked into the Long Beach Police Department headquarters and asked to talk to homicide detectives, authorities said.
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Prosecutors said Waters was killed in Long Beach and his body was driven to Rancho Palos Verdes, where the SUV was set on fire.
—City News Service.
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