VICTORVILLE – Homicide detectives, investigating the March 17 disappearance of a man, recovered his remains last week and arrested a suspect on Thursday.
Zachary Steven Barron, 23, recently of Victorville, was arrested in the murder of 34-year-old Alberto “Jimmy” Felix, who had been reported missing on March 17.
Leads started to surface this past week, and detectives served a search warrant at an Apple Valley home on Thursday, May 21. Further investigation led to a remote patch in the northwestern area of Apple Valley. A shallow grave was located containing unidentified human remains that, one day later, were identified as Felix. Evidence, according to Detective Ed De La Torre and Sgt. Robert Warrick, led investigators to believe that Felix had been murdered.
Deputies became aware of Felix’s disappearance on March 17 just after 9 am. Informed that Felix had not been seen or heard from since March 15, investigators determined that his disappearance was “suspicious.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division began piling up numerous leads. Using Sheriff’s Aviation Division, including both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, they investigated leads and possible locations for Felix’s whereabouts, and investigators began noting possible areas to further search for him.
Authorities did not disclose the relationship between Barron and Felix, nor was a motive in the alleged killing released at this time. Investigators said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause of death.
Barron was arrested at his current residence on the 15300 block of Mondamon Road, and booked into the High Desert Detention Center without bail, according to records.
He had been scheduled to appear at a May 13 hearing on separate charges, including making criminal threats. San Bernardino County District Attorney deputies asked for a postponement because they were considering murder charges, according to minutes of that proceeding. Barron had been arrested on May 31 of last year for assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, along with driving under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol level over .08%.
