A man accused of killing a homeless woman in Huntington Beach more than two years ago strangled her to death before decapitating her and burying her body, Orange County prosecutors argued in court Wednesday.
But the defense attorney for Antonio Padilla said the woman had been in poor health and her cause of death was never confirmed. Public Defender Daniel Kim also attempted to cast suspicion on other possible suspects during opening statements in Padilla’s trial.
Padilla faces one count of murder in connection with the death of Gina Marie Lockhart. Her body was unearthed by detectives in the yard of his parents’ mobile home on the 7800 block of Slater Avenue on July 17, 2022.
“The lingering question is … how did Ms. Lockhart die?” Kim said.
Padilla was homeless at the time of the woman’s death and occasionally stayed in a shed at the back of the property, Janine Madera, senior prosecutor for the Orange County District Attorney’s office, told the jury. His relatives began smelling a foul odor at the home about 15 days before Lockhart’s body was found. Loud noises could be heard from the shed in the days that followed, and the defendant’s sister reported seeing her brother burying something in the yard.
At one point, Padilla’s mother saw him carrying items wrapped in blankets that appeared to be stained with blood and crawling with maggots, Madera said. He refused to show her what was inside and fled when she decided to call the police.
Although officers responding on July 11 took note of a strong odor at the home, they didn’t immediately suspect a crime, Madera said. They thought a dead animal may have been on the premises, and suggested that residents deep clean the area.
When the defendant’s mother tried to tidy up the shed, she found a patch of hair still attached to a piece of scalp, women’s clothing she didn’t recognize and a dirty pair of Vans shoes that were missing laces. She called police again on July 16 and showed them what she…