Subsequent development: Murder Victim Found Deceased In Downtown LB Residence Was Well-Known English Professor, Ex-Director of UCI's African-American Studies Pgm, Moved To Teach At UC Riverside Last Year

(July 15, 2008) -- LBPD has released information about what it's treating as a murder discovered Sunday morning (July 13) in the 100 block of West Fifth St. (area of 5th St. at Pine Ave.) when officers responded to the area regarding a foul odor from one of the units...and found the body of a deceased male adult.

LBPD identifies the victim as Lindon Barrett, 46...and says he appears to have been deceased for several days. LBPD's release continues:

Further investigation by patrol officers indicated that suspicious circumstances existed and Homicide detectives responded. During the investigation, detectives realized the victim's car was missing and possibly taken by the suspect. Additional investigation led detectives to the area of Paramount Boulevard and South Street where the victim's vehicle was located.

Homicide detectives called upon the assistance of the Career Criminal Apprehension Team (C-CAT). C-CAT detectives set-up surveillance on the vehicle and when the suspect returned to it, was taken into custody.

The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Marlon Martinez of Long Beach, was booked for murder and held on $1,000,000 bail.

The motive for the incident is still under investigation; however, detectives believe this was an isolated incident, as the victim and suspect were acquaintances.

Anyone with information about what took place should contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Terri Hubert and Russ Moss at (562) 570-7244.