A story for every victim

Amelia Espinoza, 42 [Updated]

Amelia Espinoza, a 42-year-old Latina, was found dead Friday, Feb. 4, in the 5600 block of Maywood Avenue in Maywood, according to family and Los Angeles County coroner's records.

[For the Record, 12:27 p.m. Feb. 9, 2011:  An earlier version of this post, based on information from the coroner's office, listed the victim as Jane Doe No. 6. Family of the woman told KTLA News her name was Amelia Espinoza. Coroner's officials have not released the victim's name citing that they have not notified next of kin of her death.]

Moises Meraz-Espinoza, an 18-year-old Latino and Amelia Espinoza's son, apparently walked into a Huntington Park police station Friday afternoon and told authorities that he had killed someone and that the body was inside an apartment in Maywood.

Family members told KTLA-TV that Meraz-Espinoza admitted cutting his mother's body with a saw. They said he seemed depressed after his girlfriend was hit by a car and killed four months ago.

Homicide investigators at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is handling the case, confirmed that the body parts were found in a freezer but declined to provide further details, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Photo: Moises Meraz-Espinoza. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department[Updated 12:27 p.m., Feb. 9, 2011:  On Tuesday, Meraz-Espinoza was charged with one count of murder. He did not enter a plea in court. He is currently being held in lieu of $1 million at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 23 at the East Los Angeles Municipal Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.]

[Updated 2:04 p.m., July 17, 2013: Meraz-Espinoza was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for strangling and killing his mother, then dismembering her body. He was convicted in June on one count of first-degree murder following one day of jury deliberations.]

-- Ching-Ching Ni and Sarah Ardalani

KTLA Video: Teen charged with killing mom

Photo: Moises Meraz-Espinoza. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Share a memory or thought about Amelia Espinoza

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

  Required
  Required

18 reader comments