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Authorities in Orange County have launched a search for the bodies of a missing woman and her two young sons, and the woman's ex-boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
31-year-old Shazer Fernando Limas was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol following a high-speed chase Thursday night in San Diego County, however it was not until Friday morning that Limas was arrested for the murder of 31-year-old Arlet Hernandez and the estranged couple's two young children, according to City News Service. The boys are 2 years old and 4 months old respectively.
The chase began near John Wayne Airport, and ended just beyond the San Diego county line after Limas ran over spike strips set up in San Juan Capistrano. The suspect remained in the vehicle for an hour before exiting.
Authorities say they were alerted to a possible crime early Thursday; someone in the apartment complex had taken note of evidence and contacted the police.
Police in the city of Orange found evidence inside the family's vacant apartment indicating an altercation. Authorities also spotted blood in the unit. Limas had reportedly just moved out on April 28.
The search for the victims' bodies has been described as "far-flung," as locations being combed include the Brea landfill. The search extends beyond Orange County, confirms Orange police Sgt. Dan Adams.
Adams has not said Limas has confessed, however based on interviews conducted with the suspect, police are sure he is responsible for the three deaths. "We're confident this is our suspect," notes Adams. He also points out that as of this morning Limas had not retained an attorney.
UPDATE 9:45 AM Authorities say that the search of the landfill so far has not turned up anything pertaining to the missing woman and children. Sgt. Adams elaborated that they were searching that particular landfill in Brea with cadaver dogs because that is where the trash from the apartment complex would have been delivered, and "the department was playing a hunch that Limas could have disposed of the bodies using the building's garbage cans," reports CNS.
