Veronica Aguilar of California, United States has died. She was 27.
Aguilar graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. She was an elementary school teacher at Anaverde Hills School in Palmdale, Los Angeles County while her former boyfriend Matthew Switalski, 37, of Lancaster, Los Angeles County is an accountant previously employed as a cost and schedule controller for weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman.
In 2006, Switalski graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College in Twin Peaks, San Bernardino County, California. He rented out several rooms of his five-bedroom residence in Quartz Hills, Los Angeles to Northrop Grumman employees, his neighbors told KTLA.
In May 2023, Switalski’s Northrop Grumman employment ended after he was arrested and charged with several counts of rape and sexual misconduct against a romantic partner, who was not identified. In June 2023, he was arraigned and freed on a $600,000 bail.
At around 8:20 a.m. on December 20, 2023, firefighters extinguished a fire at Switalski’s residence in Quartz Hill and found Aguilar’s body in the trunk of a burned car in the garage. There were severe burns on her face and multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest.
After leaving the burning house in a truck with an attached trailer, Switalski was found at a campsite at Lake Isabella, Kern County, California. He was carrying $25,000 in cash.
According to investigators, Switalski emptied a bank account that he shared with his father. The accountant was arrested and held on $10 million bail but on December 26, 2023, a judge revoked the bail.
Switalski was charged with with murder and arson of an inhabited structure or property. He did not enter a plea.
CONAN Daily 