Family member accused of decapitating woman and taking her head, California cops say

A 23-year-old man accused of decapitating a Santa Rosa woman and taking her head has been arrested, California police reported.

Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez of Santa Rosa was arrested at the Transbay Terminal just before 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in San Francisco, police told KRON. He is accused of homicide.

On Thursday, Nov. 2, Santa Rosa officers called to a home about a possible homicide found the headless body of a woman, police said in a news release.

The woman had been killed and decapitated, police said. Her head was not initially found and investigators said they believe Aroyo-Lopez took it with him.

Police issued a description of Aroyo-Lopez. He was arrested after an officer at the Transbay Terminal recognized him, KRON said.

Officers found her head at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 on the banks of Santa Rosa Creek, adjacent to the Prince Memorial Greenway, according to a Nov. 6 news release. She was identified as Elvia Lopez-Arroyo, 64, the suspect’s grandmother.

Santa Rosa police as that anyone with information call 707-543-3590.

This story was originally published November 5, 2023 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Family member accused of decapitating woman and taking her head, California cops say."