Full Notification

UPDATE: NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lt. Kevin Toth
DATE: December 28, 2020 PHONE: 760-839-4444

UPDATE: ESCONDIDO MAN KILLED INSIDE HIS APARTMENT

On 12-22-20 at approximately 7:01 p.m., the Escondido Communications Center received a 911 call from a female resident of an apartment at 660 N. Quince St stating that her roommate was deceased. Officers arrived at the apartment and discovered an adult male subject inside of the apartment. He was unresponsive with obvious signs of trauma. He was pronounced deceased at the apartment. Shelley Reaves (52) of Escondido was arrested that night for murder.

The victim’s identity was confirmed by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Rafael Octavio Choza (63) of Escondido. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds and his death was determined to be a homicide. Investigators confirmed that Reaves and Choza were involved in a dating relationship and this is currently being investigated as a domestic related homicide. Reaves does have a known history of drug use, however, whether she was under the influence of drugs at the time of the homicide is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Escondido Police Department.

Please follow the police department via Facebook at www.facebook.com/EscondidoPolice and Twitter and Instagram (@EscondidoPolice). Text EscondidoPD to 888777 for community alerts from Nixle.

To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at (760) 743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org.
###