In the early morning hours of April 1, 2024, a grim discovery was made in a canal near 55th Avenue and Osborn Road in Phoenix, Arizona. First responders were called to the scene of a car fire around 6:40 a.m. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, a body was found inside the vehicle. The victim was later identified as 26-year-old Jose de Jesus Loeza.
An investigation by the Phoenix Police Department revealed that Loeza had not perished in the fire but had died from gunshot wounds.
This led detectives to treat the case as a homicide. The investigation continued for nearly two months before a significant breakthrough occurred. In May 2024, two brothers, 40-year-old Jose Lomeli and 35-year-old Roberto Lomeli, were arrested in connection with the murder.
Following the arrests, further details of the crime came to light. It is alleged that Jose Lomeli shot Loeza after an argument at a residence. Subsequently, it is believed that both brothers worked together to place Loeza's body in the trunk of his own car, drive it to the canal, and set it on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence. During questioning, Jose Lomeli reportedly confessed to shooting Loeza. As a result, Jose Lomeli was charged with second-degree murder, arson, and abandoning a body. His brother, Roberto Lomeli, faces charges of arson and abandoning a body for his alleged role in the crime.
