Costa Mesa man returns to apartment after killing partner, fleeing, police say

A Costa Mesa man who stabbed his romantic partner to death was arrested after he returned to their shared apartment while officers were still investigating, police said.

Martin Laragarcia, 28, was arrested late Sunday night or early Monday morning, hours after he stabbed 29-year-old Denise Avila multiple times in the 500 block of Victoria Street, the Costa Mesa Police Department said in a news release .

The attack was reported shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, and Laragarcia was spotted fleeing the residence in a vehicle before officers arrived. Avila, meanwhile, was declared dead at the scene.

He returned “hours later…while police were still at the scene” and was arrested in connection with the suspected homicide.

“Detectives have located what is believed to be the weapon used in this homicide,” police added.

Laragarcia did not appear in a search of jail records Monday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Eloisa Peralta at 714-754-5039.

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