VENTURA, Calif. (KNX) – A Camarillo man was charged in the murder of his colleague, whose body was found in the Santa Monica Mountains.
According to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Rotherie Durell Foster, 37, was charged with intentionally murdering Jose Velasquez, as well as eight counts of identity theft, two counts of forgery and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Foster served time for voluntary manslaughter and felony assault.
Nasarenko told KNX News that Foster, a fellow contractor, is not only accused of shooting Velasquez to death, but also stealing the victim’s identity and money.
“The defendant had used the debit credit card as well as the checking account of the victim in multiple locations on multiple days and it is the position of the District Attorney's Office that this was carried out and committed for financial gain,” he said.
Velasquez was reported missing in late July. On Oct. 3, his remains were discovered by hikers in the Santa Monica Mountains off Mulholland Highway.
Nasarenko said Velasquez, who was also from Camarillo, was starting his own general contracting business.
“What was very emotional is mom telling in the course of our phone call that what Jose was doing on her behalf was saving up money to buy her home in Virginia,” he recalled.
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