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A man has been charged with murder after a woman’s body was found in a dumpster in California

A man has been charged with murder after a woman’s body was found in a dumpster in California

A California man has been charged with murder after his a friend was found dead in a garbage can at his home by landscapers hired to work on the grounds.

Daniel Allen Aldrich, 49, of Costa Mesa is accused of strangling his girlfriend, Julie Ann Sanetra, 38, of Irvine, to death and slitting her wrists with a folding knife after a night of drinking on Sunday, Oct. 20, according to pres- release issued Monday, Oct. 28, by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office website.

Aldrich was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree personal battery after Sanetra’s body was “found by landscapers hired to mow the lawn” on Tuesday, Oct. 22, according to the report.

According to the report, landscapers called the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) after discovering “Sanetra’s body partially outside the trash can when they arrived at the residence.” Previous Post CMPD confirmed that the body was discovered just before 2:30 p.m. local time.

According to the latest report from the Orange County Prosecutor’s Office, Aldrich is accused of “leaving Sanetra’s body on the couch while he watched television before bed” on Oct. 20 after allegedly killing her following an argument.

“The next day, Aldrich is accused of dragging Sanetra’s body outside and stuffing her body into a trash can outside the home. Aldrich is accused of going back inside, packing a bag and then driving to his mother’s home in Glendale,” the report said, confirming Aldrich was later arrested at his mother’s property.

The suspect faces a maximum prison term of 26 years to life in prison if convicted on all counts, authorities confirmed. “He is currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail,” the release added.

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“Julie Sanetra did not deserve to be strangled and stuffed into a dumpster like a piece of trash,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

“The callousness of this crime is shocking, and we will do everything we can to get justice for Julie and her loved ones,” Spitzer added.

Aldrich’s arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center in Westminster, California.

The Orange County District Attorney’s office did not immediately respond when PEOPLE reached out for more information.

After Sanetra’s death was reported last week, Costa Mesa Deputy Police Chief Joyce Lapointe told the local ABC affiliate KABC-TV that you did not expect this to happen in this area.

“It’s a nice residential area,” LaPointe told the paper. “That’s something we don’t see very often around here.”