Fillmore man charged with sister's murder

by F. Scott Faulkner , September 17, 2010

FILLMORE — A sister’s screams brought authorities to the scene of a deadly dispute between brother and sister Wednesday evening in Fillmore.

At approximately 6 p.m. Sept. 15, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call regarding a hysterical female screaming in the vicinity of an apartment complex in downtown Fillmore.

According to sheriff’s Capt. Ross Bonfiglio, the spokesman for the department, deputies arrived at the scene less than a full minute after the call, and observed David Morales, 31, fleeing the scene on foot.

“He was brought down and quickly subdued,” Bonfiglio said.

Deputies also discovered Maricruz Morales, 20, suffering facial injuries and severe head trauma at the scene. Fillmore city fire units responded with medical aid to stabilize her until ambulance units arrived. She was transported via American Medical Response ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center.

David Morales was questioned at the scene and indicated that a dispute had taken place between himself and his sister inside the family residence.

“At that time he was taken into custody on suspicion of domestic violence and battery,” said Bonfiglio.

Five hours later, doctors pronounced Maricruz Morales dead as the result of blunt-force injuries to the head. David Morales, who had been booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, was then charged with felony murder, with his original bail of $525,000 increased to more than $1 million.