San Luis Obispo Man Charged in Santa Monica Woman's Death

Key Takeaways

• Taylor Roger Free, 35, of San Luis Obispo, was arrested July 25 in Los Angeles.
• Santa Monica police found a woman with significant injuries in an apartment on Pico Boulevard; she later died at the location.
• Free was located near Crenshaw and Exposition boulevards about three hours after the initial call.
• He remains in custody with bail set at $2 million.
• On July 28, the LA County District Attorney's Office charged him with one count of murder.

Santa Monica Death Investigated as Homicide

Just after 5:20 p.m. on July 25, Santa Monica police received a call about a woman needing medical assistance in an apartment in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard. Officers arrived and found the woman suffering from significant injuries. Fire personnel tried to save her, but she died at the location, according to police.

Detectives and forensic personnel began treating the case as a homicide. Based on witness statements, they identified 35-year-old Taylor Roger Free of San Luis Obispo as a possible suspect.

Arrest in South Los Angeles

Santa Monica police asked the LAPD and the LA County Sheriff's Department for help locating Free. Around 8 p.m., about three hours after the initial response, LAPD officers found Free in the West Adams neighborhood of South LA, near Crenshaw and Exposition boulevards.

Free was taken into custody and transported to the Santa Monica Police Department Jail. He was booked for murder and is being held on $2 million bail.

Charges Filed

On Tuesday, July 28, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed one count of murder against Free. It remains unclear how Free was linked to the victim and why the Central Coast man was in the LA area.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.

Local Context for the Central Coast

Free is a resident of San Luis Obispo County, a community that rarely appears in violent crime cases of this scale. The arrest drew attention from Central Coast media and left local readers looking for answers about a homicide that happened more than 200 miles from home.

The case also highlights how quickly local law enforcement agencies in Southern California coordinate across jurisdictions, from Santa Monica to Los Angeles and the county sheriff's department.

Background

Homicides in Santa Monica are relatively rare. The city, with about 90,000 residents, typically records a handful of homicides per year. Fatal incidents involving domestic partners or acquaintances are investigated closely by the Santa Monica Police Department, often with help from regional agencies.

Conclusion

The murder charge against Taylor Roger Free now moves through the Los Angeles County court system. With bail set at $2 million, he remains in custody. Further court proceedings will determine the next steps in this case.

Sources and Materials

• calcoastnews
• ksby
• nbclosangeles