California Man, Ivan Alfaro Escobedo, Accused of Killing and Dismembering Ex-Girlfriend

 

A 31-year-old man from California is now facing murder charges for a horrifying crime. He's accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Alyssa Salazar, 33, and then doing unspeakable things to her remains. 


Ivan Alfaro Escobedo, who sometimes goes by Iban Alfaro Escovedo, allegedly shot Alyssa to death, as detailed in a statement of facts document by Detective Jason Greathead of the Gilroy police. This information was filed in the Superior Court by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and obtained by Law&Crime.

Alyssa's family reported her as missing on August 10, after not hearing from her since late July, according to the Gilroy Police Department. The investigation led detectives to a property south of Gilroy in unincorporated Santa Clara County on August 30. 

It was discovered that Escobedo's sister lived in a trailer on the property. Witnesses recalled seeing a fire burning for several days in barrels next to the trailer while Escobedo was at his sister's home in late July.


Between August 30 and September 1, investigators searched the property and discovered human bones in a burn barrel, including pieces of ribs, a skull, and a hand. They also found bloodstains in a bathtub, which were identified as belonging to Salazar. 

Witnesses stated that they had seen Salazar in her ex-boyfriend's car, seemingly lifeless. One witness even claimed that Escobedo admitted to shooting her, dismembering her body in the bathtub, and burning her remains in the barrels.

Investigators believe that the motive behind the murder stems from a prior incident where Salazar had reported to the police on April 27, 2023, that Escobedo had raped and physically assaulted her. Records from the Santa Clara County Superior Court show that felony family violence charges were filed on May 26.


In a GoFundMe page created to raise money for funeral expenses and legal representation, Salazar's sister, Jessica Salazar, alleges that the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office took too long to act on the rape case. She believes that if they had acted more promptly, her sister might still be alive today.

A spokesperson for the DA's office expressed condolences to the Salazar family and emphasized that Escobedo's alleged crimes would not go unpunished. The spokesperson explained that the sexual assault case initially faced challenges because the victim discontinued her cooperation with investigators, but it was later charged based on new evidence after Alyssa's homicide.

In July, Salazar's sister and grandmother reported receiving threatening calls from a male voice resembling Escobedo, which threatened to harm them if Alyssa reported the rape. It's unclear whether Escobedo knew about the rape report, but tragically, he followed through on those threats, according to the police.


Escobedo wasn't arrested until August 30 when investigators found red-brown stains in his Honda Accord's front passenger door frame and a 9 mm handgun. The stains tested positive for blood, and the DNA matched Salazar's. Since his arrest, Escobedo has been held without bail in the Santa Clara County Jail.

Jessica Salazar expressed disbelief that Escobedo had carried out his threats. She described Alyssa as a strong person who refused to be intimidated into taking back her statement.

In a local news report by KTVU, it was mentioned that Escobedo refused to appear in court, prompting Jessica Salazar to call him a "coward" and express her anger and grief. She also sent a heartfelt message to him, hoping that he would carry the memory of Alyssa with him every day.

In another new troopers in Iowa this week made a grim discovery on a highway. They came across a stalled car and found a man's lifeless body hidden under clothes in the passenger seat. See detailed story here

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