Person of Interest in Double Murder, ID’d and Questioned

Los Angeles.  After a year of investigating and profiling the case on LA’s Most Wanted, detectives have identified and questioned Elizabeth Murillo, 24, in the 2012 double murder in Panorama City.

“While we did not get the tips we hoped for following TV news feature last August, detectives continued to work the case,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “It took a while, but DNA finally identified Murillo, putting her at the murder scene and in the victim’s car.”

Detectives released video showing murder suspect, Edwin Lugo, and Murillo walking and laughing through a Lincoln Height CVS store just hours after the double murder.  The store was 2 miles from Lugo’s father’s house. 

Lugo has already been arrested for the drug-related murders of Mario Martinez, 35, and Jaime Polino, 26, who were shot to death in Martinez’s Brimfield Avenue apartment.  Polino’s car was missing from the crime scene.  Detectives believe Lugo took the car from the murder scene with Murillo was his passenger. This was the car seen at the CVS in Lincoln Heights.

DNA results from items at the crime scene and from the victim’s stolen car identified Murillo.  On July 25, 2013, detectives served a search warrant at Murillo’s Lancaster home and detained her.  She was released after questioning at the police station, and detectives continue to work the case. 

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Gretchen Schultz, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9951.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers
at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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