Brayan Jose Rodriguez, 20

Brayan Jose Rodriguez, a 20-year-old Latino, died from suspicious causes on Sunday, Sept. 24, in the 23600 block of Via Valer in Santa Clarita, according to Los Angeles County authorities. 

Deputies were called to the house where Rodriguez died about 3:57 p.m. with a report of a "person not breathing," said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Rodney Moore. 

Paramedics were unable to revive Rodriguez, Moore said. 

Rodriguez, who was from Valencia, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:20 p.m., according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. The cause of death is still pending. 

Investigators aren’t commenting about the specifics of Rodriguez’s death, except to say it appeared he was strangled.

“Based on statements and other evidence, we believe that the crime of murder occurred,” Moore said. 

Deputies arrested Rodriguez’s friend, Christian Alexander Ortiz, a 21-year-old Latino who lived in the house, on suspicion of murder, Moore said. He was booked in lieu of $1 million bail. 

Ortiz was charged with murder on Sept. 27. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 16 at the L.A. County Superior Court’s San Fernando Courthouse.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.