See more of our coverage in your search results.
A missing California DoorDash driver was found dead in the trunk of a Tesla — and now a 39-year-old suspect is facing murder charges after a three-month investigation uncovered evidence the victim had been beaten before his body was stashed in the car.
Javier Becerril Jr., 42, of Hollister, was found dead July 9 inside a Tesla sedan on State Route 152 in Merced County.
Now, Manuel Salceda of Turlock is facing murder charges after investigators zeroed in on him using surveillance footage, physical evidence and other investigative leads, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The probe also turned up another troubling wrinkle, detectives learned Salceda may have operated under multiple identities in an effort to evade law enforcement.
Investigators finally closed in on their suspect Oct. 11, after learning a vehicle believed to be carrying Salceda was near Dublin. The trail took authorities across several Bay Area counties before ending at a gas station on Road 8 near Interstate 5 in Woodland, where officers arrested him without incident.
The arrest capped a three-month effort by the CHP’s Central Division Major Crimes Unit — and came after detectives determined Becerril had suffered a physical assault before his body was placed in the Tesla’s trunk.
“As California’s state police, the CHP is committed to pursuing violent offenders and working with our law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice,” CHP Chief Damon Gilmore said.
“Our detectives tracked the evidence across multiple counties to locate and arrest the suspect in Javier Becerril Jr.’s killing.”
Salceda was arraigned on murder charges in Merced County Superior Court on Oct. 20.
Becerril’s family had reported him missing before authorities made the discovery that transformed the search into a homicide investigation.
His body was found inside the vehicle near the highway, and the circumstances surrounding the death quickly raised suspicions among investigators.
“There are circumstances that are suspicious, and that’s why we’re treating it as such,” a CHP investigator said during the early stages of the case.
Cops also examined the Tesla’s onboard computer system for possible data or video that could help identify the person or people responsible for the death.