| For Immediate Release Case # TBA May 21, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF ARMY VETERAN ROOMMATE BEFORE DISPOSING OF BODY IN CANYON
SANTA ANA – A man was charged today with murdering his roommate and disposing of her body in a canyon. Kwang Chol Joy, 54, Orange, is charged with one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Joy is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to be arraigned today, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At the time of the crime, Joy is accused of living in an Orange home with 36-year-old roommate Maribel Ramos. The victim was an Army veteran and a student at California State University, Fullerton.
On May 2, 2013, the defendant is accused of getting into an argument with Ramos after she told him to move out of the home because he was not paying his rent. That night, Ramos was seen on video surveillance dropping off a rent check at the property manager’s office. It was the last time she was seen alive.
Sometime between May 2, 2013, and May 3, 2013, Joy is accused of murdering Ramos. He is accused of then disposing of her body off Santiago Canyon Road.
On the night of May 3, 2013, the victim’s friends reported her missing after becoming concerned when she didn’t show up for scheduled events. The Orange Police Department (OPD) began investigating this case.
On May 16, 2013, a body was located off Santiago Canyon Road during a search for the victim. The body was identified by the Orange County Sheriff Coroner as Ramos on May 17, 2013. The cause of death is under investigation.
Joy was arrested May 17, 2013, by OPD at the police station.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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