Danny Leon Mathis, 51, of Weldon was taken into custody Sunday afternoon at 10909 Hand Court in Weldon, when a badly beaten body was discovered in the truck of a car at the Hand Ct. address.
Kern County Coroner's office performed the autopsy and identified the deceased as Ruben Torres, 22, of Weldon. Cause of death was determined "beaten by another."
  
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The body, according to Officer Ray Pruitt of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, showed signs of trauma and has been ruled a homicide.
During the investigation, homicide detectives had learned that the vehicle is owned by the person residing at the Hand Court address and that the owner lent the vehicle to Danny Leon Mathis, 51, of Weldon.
Detectives were able to determine that the remains were in the trunk for no more than one day. They also determined that Mathis was an acquaintance of the deceased.
A search warrant was obtained for Mathis’ residence at 11311 Bronco Court in Weldon and upon searching the residence, detectives found sufficient evidence to take Mathis into custody.
“The evidence found inside the house was enough to help detectives determine that Mathis was involved in the homicide and that the crime occurred inside the Bronco Ct. residence,” Pruitt said in a telephone interview with the Sun. The homicide is believed to have occurred as a result of a problem between the victim and the suspect.
“More details as to cause and time of death will be available after the autopsy is conducted,” Pruitt said. “There are no signs that would indicate any gang affiliations to the case,” he said.
The owner of the vehicle is not a person of interest at this time, Pruit said. Mathis is the only suspect in the homicide. Mathis was taken to the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield and booked for 1st degree murder on Jan. 29. He is being held without bail. The Sun will report further on the case as more details become available.
Comments
36 comment(s)Billy Budd wrote on Feb 15, 2012 12:37 PM:
Theres no closer, there isn't any understanding, as to why we as human beings look to murder one another.
Its a darkness of the heart when we take a life, and all to often the victim becomes blamed for their own deaths. "
aunt diane wrote on Feb 13, 2012 10:56 PM:
Larry Knight wrote on Feb 13, 2012 4:37 AM:
Rafa wrote on Feb 12, 2012 11:40 PM:
aunt dian wrote on Feb 11, 2012 12:17 PM:
Larry Knight wrote on Feb 10, 2012 10:26 PM:
Billy Budd wrote on Feb 9, 2012 4:54 AM:
Its sad, very sad. "
aunt diane wrote on Feb 8, 2012 9:34 PM:
cdcox wrote on Feb 8, 2012 3:33 PM:
dan wrote on Feb 8, 2012 3:27 PM:
re to clean up -clean up the valley- wrote on Feb 7, 2012 8:53 PM:
whatever wrote on Feb 7, 2012 7:17 PM:
to clean up wrote on Feb 7, 2012 9:47 AM:
mike wrote on Feb 6, 2012 9:13 PM:
cleanupthevalley wrote on Feb 6, 2012 8:14 AM:
Sylvia Reyes Lil Rubens Mother wrote on Feb 2, 2012 7:46 PM:
De Los Reyes Family wrote on Feb 2, 2012 10:54 AM:
The G.Family wrote on Feb 1, 2012 5:47 PM:
we will never forget u !You will be missed!
Rest In Paradise boo boos you are gone but u will never be forgotten you will live threw us from our hearts and our memories. May your soul travel in peace and we will see you soon.. - Junior "
Becca Reyes wrote on Feb 1, 2012 12:46 PM:
isabella reader wrote on Feb 1, 2012 12:42 PM:
Aresponsetorobbin wrote on Feb 1, 2012 11:04 AM:
whatever wrote on Feb 1, 2012 10:54 AM:
Billy Budd wrote on Feb 1, 2012 8:29 AM:
Samue l De Los Reyes Jr wrote on Feb 1, 2012 7:40 AM:
Kern Valley resident wrote on Feb 1, 2012 7:01 AM:
Robbin wrote on Jan 31, 2012 11:03 PM:
Irene Reyes wrote on Jan 31, 2012 7:19 PM:
aunt diane wrote on Jan 31, 2012 2:30 PM:
Robbin wrote on Jan 31, 2012 1:10 PM:
weldon res wrote on Jan 31, 2012 12:04 PM:
Lupita Anzaldo. wrote on Jan 31, 2012 11:52 AM:
respects wrote on Jan 30, 2012 7:03 PM:
dan wrote on Jan 30, 2012 5:59 PM:
kern river resident wrote on Jan 30, 2012 5:50 PM:
PRAYING wrote on Jan 30, 2012 9:39 AM:
frances reyes wrote on Jan 29, 2012 10:19 PM: