Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Co-Worker in Mira Mesa

Leopoldo Pacuan, 51, killed Raquel Morales, 63, at a wire transfer and shipping business in Mira Mesa on May 18, 2014

A man convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of his co-worker during a robbery at a business in Mira Mesa will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The San Diego District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that Leopoldo Pacuan, 51, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the May 18, 2014 murder of Raquel Morales, 63.

Morales was an employee at LBC Express, a 24-hour wire transfer and shipping business in Mira Mesa.

When Morales failed to come home from work on the night of her killing, her husband became worried and called police.

At around 2 a.m. that day, officers found Morales dead inside the store, with obvious signs of trauma to her body.

On May 22, the victim’s co-worker, Pacuan, was arrested in connection with the killing. Investigators said he killed Morales after stealing her purse and several pieces of jewelry from her, including a watch, bracelet and ring. He stole nothing from the business.

Pacuan worked at the business as a courier driver and knew Morales, but the two did not share a close friendship at work, police said. Pacuan was on leave from work at the time of Morales’ killing.

In May 2014, Morales’ nephew, Ryan Alacon, told NBC 7 his family was devastated by his aunt’s murder. He described Morales as a happy person with an infectious laugh.

“My aunt was a very loving, caring and sweet person,” Alacon said. “She was a wife, a mother, she was a sister and she was a daughter.”

Morales had been working for LBC since 2003 and, according to the company, was beloved by customers for her caring attitude.

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