Two men have been arrested in California in connection with the death of a man whose decomposed body was found inside a 55-gallon oil barrel floating in San Diego Bay in October.
Timothy John Cook, 52, of Chula Vista, and Derrick Jefferson Spurgeon, 38, of El Cajon, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murdering 28-year-old Omar Medina.
Medina’s body was found in an oil drum weighed down with cinder blocks near the Chula Vista marina on October 12, nearly two weeks after he was reported missing.
Timothy John Cook, 52, and Derrick Jefferson Spurgeon, 38, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murdering 28-year-old Omar Medina (pictured). Medina’s body was found in an oil drum weighed down with cinder blocks in the San Deigo Bay in October
Police have not released information about what led to the arrests of Cook and Spurgeon other than saying that search warrants were issued at two residents in El Cajon and Chula Vista.
Music producer Medina’s family had been looking for him for 13 days when his body was found in the San Diego Bay.
He was last seen on September 30, and his car was found on October 1 in Chula Vista, according to the San Diego Tribune.
After the barrel was spotted on October 12, a diver alerted authorities who smelled the odor of decomposition and put on hazardous material suits to open it.
There was no rust on the barrel when it was removed from the bay, suggesting that it was only there for a few days before being discovered.
Medina’s decomposed body was found inside a 55-gallon oil barrel floating in San Diego Bay on October 12
After the barrel was spotted on October 12, a diver alerted authorities who smelled the odor of decomposition and put on hazardous material suits to open it. Pictured above, the search for the barrel
Medina’s body was so badly decomposed that it wasn’t identified until six weeks later, in late November.
Police have not released information on Medina’s cause of death or why he was killed.
The victim’s sister called Medina a ‘very special man’ at a press conference after the arrests.
‘He would tell me that we are a very special family because there was no hate in our hearts. I apply this today,’ she said, according to NBC San Diego.
An investigation into the case is ongoing, and anyone with information has been asked to call the Chula Vista Police Department at (619)422-TIPS.