By Khalida Sarwari
Two people were arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of a 22-year-old Salinas man who drowned in the Arroyo Seco River earlier this month, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities arrested Enedino Perea, 25, of Salinas, and his 17-year-old nephew shortly before midnight Tuesday for the murder of Cresencio Garcia.
Garcia was found dead at about 10:40 a.m. on Aug. 2 beneath a bridge near Elm Avenue, in an unincorporated part of Monterey County west of Greenfield.
He had apparently been severely beaten before he drowned, and his body may have been in the water for a day or two before he was spotted, according to the sheriff’s office.
Perea was booked into the Monterey County jail for conspiracy, murder, robbery, auto theft, forgery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
His nephew was booked into juvenile hall on charges of conspiracy, murder, robbery, forgery and auto theft.
Authorities are continuing to investigate this case and ask anyone with information to call sheriff’s Investigator Bret Spiers or Sgt. Terry Kaiser at (831) 755-3772 or (888) 833-4847.