OAKLAND — Police say they’ve recognized the one that threw a suitcase containing the physique of a younger man into Lake Merritt final 12 months, however they’re nonetheless ready on an post-mortem report to find out the sufferer’s reason behind loss of life.
Police arrested 38-year-old Marice Bronson in reference to the invention of the physique in Halloween 2023, however Bronson was later launched with out costs. Authorities say that’s as a result of whereas Bronson allegedly bragged to a number of those that he threw the physique into the lake, he additionally claimed the sufferer died of a fentanyl overdose.
Now, murder investigators are ready to listen to whether or not the sufferer died of an overdose, by impartial means, or if there may be proof that he was nonetheless respiration when he was thrown into the lake. The result of the report will decide whether or not homicide costs or much less critical counts associated to the physique disposal shall be filed, authorities stated.
The case started with a 911 name on Oct. 31, 2023, when the physique of Gabriel Gomez-Raymundo, 23, was discovered alongside a bit of Lake Merritt close to Lakeshore Avenue. Police say they obtained an nameless tip days later stating they need to examine Bronson within the case.
Authorities say they subsequently spoke to quite a few individuals who claimed that Bronson took duty for Gomez-Raymundo being within the lake. He allegedly stated issues like, “I threw somebody in Lake Merritt, didn’t you hear about it?”
In one other occasion, he reportedly joked about handing over an individual who assisted within the physique disposal and accumulating a $10,000 reward being supplied by police.
Bronson was arrested on suspicion of homicide on Sept. 4, however later launched with out costs, information present. He additionally has a pending grand theft case in Alameda County, for allegedly stealing from a TJ Maxx retailer in Alameda.
Police say that along with the declare about having thrown Gomez-Raymundo within the lake, Bronson additionally stated that the pair spent days collectively in Bronson’s condominium, and that Gomez-Raymundo died of an obvious fentanyl overdose after sleeping for practically two days.
Employees author Harry Harris contributed to this report.
