San Diego

Officials Identify City Heights Woman Found Dead in Apartment

A woman found dead in a City Heights apartment was identified Monday by San Diego police.

Jossie Marilyn Ruiz Lopez, 21, of San Diego was found by her father inside the apartment near 45th and Dwight streets, south of University Avenue after 5 p.m. Saturday, police said. 

The woman was found with apparent traumatic injuries, police said.

Lopez had gone out with friends Friday night and returned home around 5:45 a.m. Saturday, Lt. Matt Dobbs said.

After her father, Pedro Ruiz, scolded her for coming home after dawn, she immediately went to bed.

Everyone in the house went to work leaving Lopez alone in the apartment.

Ruiz said he came home mid-afternoon and didn't notice anything suspicious.

He said her door was closed and he assumed she was asleep inside.

Ruiz said he took a nap then made something to eat and jumped into the shower.

When he got out of the shower, he said Lopez' door was ajar.

He didn't notice anything wrong until he could not find his car keys.

That's when he went into her room and made a discovery that he said will shock him for the rest of his life. 

No suspects have been identified.

An online fundraising page has been created to help her relatives with funeral expenses.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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