Suspect Arrested in Beating Death of DoorDash Driver Found in Tesla Trunk
Authorities apprehended a man accused of killing a DoorDash driver, whose body was discovered in the trunk of his own Tesla, after he allegedly used multiple fake identities to evade capture.
A California man has been arrested for allegedly beating and shooting a DoorDash driver, then hiding his body in the trunk of the driver's Tesla. Manuel Adrian Salceda, 39, was taken into custody for the murder of Javier Becerril Jr., 42, of Hollister, after months on the run, during which he reportedly used multiple fake identities.
Becerril, a father of two, was found dead on July 9 in the trunk of a white Tesla sedan parked on Highway 152 in Merced County. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers discovered the body while responding to a missing person report.
Investigators determined that Becerril had been shot and physically assaulted before being placed in his vehicle, according to CHP Central Division Chief Damon Gilmore. Authorities identified Salceda as the suspect early in the investigation.
On October 11, law enforcement learned that a vehicle believed to be carrying Salceda was sighted near Dublin, California. Detectives tracked the vehicle across several Bay Area counties, leading to Salceda's arrest on Monday at a gas station in Woodland.
He was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Salceda also faces six special enhancements, including for premeditated murder and because the alleged crime involved great violence.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, though Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira stated that it stemmed from a personal relationship between the two men. Family members have told KFSN that Salceda is the brother of Becerril's ex-girlfriend, with whom Becerril shared two children.
Becerril, who worked as a DoorDash driver, was remembered by fellow drivers with a memorial after his death. District Attorney Silveira described the case as "one of the most calculated and callous murders we've seen in Merced County in recent memory."
Salceda, who has a prior felony conviction from 2010 for making criminal threats, faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to return to court on November 4. It is unclear if he has retained legal counsel.