BAKERSFIELD, CA - To outsiders, the murder of a 57-year-old widow on Kilkenny Court was a mystery. The day after firefighters discovered Clara Basta's body in the garage of her burned home, her car was found at an abandoned property nine miles across town. To police, clues pointed to someone who knew her.
"It wasn't a big mystery," said Sgt. Joe Grubbs. "We had a suspect in mind, and that was where the investigation was leading us."
On Friday morning, Bakersfield Police arrested 37-year-old Patrick Terrel, the son of Basta's long-time roommate Victoria Terrel. Victoria Terrel was out of town the day of the murder.
"He had been in custody since September 9th on a probation violation," said Grubbs. "Since that time, detectives have been working through the case, interviewing people who had information, and also we had the ability to analyze some evidence that was seized as a result of the case. All that put together resulted in probable cause."
A search warrant revealed Basta was found tied up by her hands and feet, lying face down in the garage, with obvious trauma to her face. The warrant also showed Patrick Terrel's girlfriend, Sonya Martinez, told police Terrel confessed to killing Basta and leaving her car a block away from his home on Kincaid Street.
"Homicide cases, murder cases, are the big cases, and when we get someone in custody it does relieve the community," said Grubbs. "Most of the time in homicides, the victim and the suspect are known to each other."
Police did not comment on a possible motive. Terrel was arrested on charges of murder, arson, burglary, and grand theft auto.
He's due in court next Tuesday.
"It wasn't a big mystery," said Sgt. Joe Grubbs. "We had a suspect in mind, and that was where the investigation was leading us."
On Friday morning, Bakersfield Police arrested 37-year-old Patrick Terrel, the son of Basta's long-time roommate Victoria Terrel. Victoria Terrel was out of town the day of the murder.
"He had been in custody since September 9th on a probation violation," said Grubbs. "Since that time, detectives have been working through the case, interviewing people who had information, and also we had the ability to analyze some evidence that was seized as a result of the case. All that put together resulted in probable cause."
A search warrant revealed Basta was found tied up by her hands and feet, lying face down in the garage, with obvious trauma to her face. The warrant also showed Patrick Terrel's girlfriend, Sonya Martinez, told police Terrel confessed to killing Basta and leaving her car a block away from his home on Kincaid Street.
"Homicide cases, murder cases, are the big cases, and when we get someone in custody it does relieve the community," said Grubbs. "Most of the time in homicides, the victim and the suspect are known to each other."
Police did not comment on a possible motive. Terrel was arrested on charges of murder, arson, burglary, and grand theft auto.
He's due in court next Tuesday.