Pasadena Man Charged with Domestic Violence Killing of Ex-Girlfriend Found in Car

A 45-year-old man has been charged with the alleged murder of the mother of his two children, whose body was discovered two months ago inside a vehicle in a residential area of the San Gabriel Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Jose Roberto Turner (dob 5/24/68) of Pasadena faces one count of murder. Case GA096978 was filed on Aug. 31.

Arraignment is scheduled Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch.

On June 16, La Joya McCoy, 31, was found dead inside her vehicle parked on the 200 block of West Cypress Avenue in Monrovia, prosecutors said. According to the criminal complaint, Turner committed the murder on June 10.

An investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department led to the defendant’s arrest on Aug. 27. Prosecutors have recommended that bail be set at $1 million.

If convicted as charged, Turner faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.