Ex-boyfriend, brother arrested after missing California woman found dead

Two Central Valley brothers have been arrested in connection with the death of a woman reported missing last month, officials announced.  

Isabel Lucas Velasco, according to investigators with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, was reported missing on Sept. 13 after last being seen on a jobsite in rural Arroyo Grande the previous day.  

Her whereabouts remained a mystery until nearly a month later when search and rescue teams, on Oct. 11, recovered a body believed to be the victim off Highway 198, west of Coalinga, a town a little more than 100 miles from where her alleged remains were located, KTLA’s sister-station KSEE/KGPE reported.  

A 45-year-old man, believed to be Velasco’s former boyfriend, identified as Alejandro Soriano Ortiz of Coalinga, and his brother, 40-year-old Santa Maria resident Celestino Soriano Ortiz, have since been arrested in connection with her disappearance and homicide.  

Investigators say Alejandro was booked on one count of murder and one count of arson, in which he is accused of setting Velasco’s vehicle on fire.  

His brother was booked for accessory to murder.  

Authorities did not provide any details surrounding the alleged homicide, nor did they say if a motive for Velasco’s disappearance and death was known.  

Velasco’s body has been turned over the San Luis Obispo County Coroner’s Office for official identification.  

The case remains active, and detectives asked anyone with information about the investigation to contact the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department at 805-781-4500.