Gilroy
– Police Tuesday identified the woman found dead in her car
outside Gilroy Monday afternoon as Crystal Ann Morado, 20, of
Salinas.
Police are investigating her death as a homicide.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – Police Tuesday identified the woman found dead in her car outside Gilroy Monday afternoon as Crystal Ann Morado, 20, of Salinas.
Police are investigating her death as a homicide.
No further details were released Tuesday. The Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy to determine the cause of death, said Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Terrance Helm, but those results are not yet being released.
“It’s contingent on the detective and is affecting his case, so cause of death … will be released when the detective feels that won’t jeopardize his case,” Helm said Tuesday afternoon.
A commercial trucker driving westbound on Hecker Pass about 11:30am Monday noticed Morado’s car parked, facing east, on the south side of the highway just east of Pole Line Road near the Santa Cruz County line. An hour later, on his return trip, the trucker saw the car was still there, with its motor still running and headlights on. He approached the vehicle and discovered Morado. She was slumped over in the passenger seat, not the driver’s seat as previously reported. There was blood on her body, deputies said.
The man drove down Hecker Pass to get cell phone reception, where he called 911 about 12:31pm. Deputies and paramedics arrived on the scene 14 minutes later, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials with the Salinas Police Department, contacted Tuesday, said detectives there did not know Morado.
Police have not yet identified a suspect or determined a motive for the killing, Helm said.
Anyone with information about this case, or who saw anything of note in the area of Hecker Pass Highway and Pole Line Road may contact Detective Sgt. Dean Baker at 808-4506 or 808-4400, or the anonymous tip line at 808-4431.
