Murder Charge Expected in Girl’s Freeway Death

The district attorney’s office is expected to file murder charges today against a 28-year-old City Heights man, suspected of throwing a 12-year-old girl from a pickup truck on Interstate 5.

Jesus Hector Garcia, being held without bail in County Jail, is expected to be arraigned today in Municipal Court, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Aaron Katz.

Police said that a witness saw a girl with a man in a red Toyota truck with oversized tires that was northbound about 60 m.p.h. in the slow lane of the freeway when he saw the girl lean toward the driver, the passenger door open and the girl tumble out. The girl landed on a service road about 50 feet north of the Old Town exit. She died of multiple injuries.

Sgt. Frank Martinez said on Wednesday that police filed the murder complaint with the district attorney’s office because of “evidence which points to the fact that he pushed her out.” Martinez, refused to elaborate.

Garcia was arrested Tuesday shortly before 4 a.m. at his home, 3439 45th St. Police also found a 1989 red Toyota pickup with large tires.

Police obtained a search warrant based on information from the victim’s relatives, who knew the suspect. The female relatives, ages 14 and 17, introduced Garcia to the victim early Sunday morning, after they left the 20th anniversary celebration of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan on Sunday, according to the victim’s mother, Sulema Rodriguez.