Man Charged With Murder, Arson After Burned Body Found In Cypress Park Parking Lot

CYPRESS PARK (CBSLA) – A man has been arrested on murder charges in connection with the death of a person whose burned remains were found near a Home Depot in the Cypress Park neighborhood of Los Angeles last week.

Los Angeles police reported Monday that 56-year-old Valentino Gutierrez was arrested Friday for the murder of a woman authorities believe to be 31-year-old Tiana Alfred.

Just before 2 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to reports of a fire at 2055 N. Figueroa St., according to police. A body was then found at the scene.

The body was burned so badly, officers were not immediately able to determine gender.

During a news conference Tuesday, police said that detectives believe that Gutierrez dismembered the body before taking it on a Metro Gold Line train in a suitcase.

It is then believed that Gutierrez got off the train in Cypress Park, rode a bicycle with the luggage to a Home Depot and set the luggage on fire.

Gutierrez, who's bail has been set at $2 million, was arraigned in L.A. County Superior Court in Pasadena Tuesday afternoon and has been charged with one count of each of murder and arson.

If convicted, he is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.