MADERA -  Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating the murder of 53-year-old Hortencia Arambula. Ms. Arambula was reported missing by family members around 5:45 pm on March 2, 2021, after they were unable to reach her for several days. Deputies responded to the residence, in the 16000 block of Road 28 1/2 in Madera County, and were unable to locate Ms. Arambula, her vehicle, or her adult son, who also lived at the residence.

Around 1:50 am on March 3, the Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call reporting the discovery of Hortencia’s remains. Her husband, who had been out of town for work, returned to their home and found her partially concealed remains in the backyard of their property.

Immediately following the discovery, Madera County Sheriff’s Office distributed an alert to outside law enforcement agencies for a vehicle and possible suspect- the victim’s adult son, 32-year-old Luis Javier Arambula.

Shortly before 3:00 am, Officers with the Madera Police Department located the vehicle, with the suspect inside, at Rotary Park in the city of Madera. Luis was detained without incident and provided a confession to MCSO detectives shortly after being taken into custody. He has been arrested and booked in at the Madera County Department of Corrections for first-degree murder.

This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770.