Sacramento Sheriff's Department detectives have made arrests in the murder of 53-year-old Leonora Montoya who was found shot to death at the Surf Motel on Auburn Boulevard late at night on March 19. According to department spokesman, Sergeant Tony Turnbull, it was late Monday afternoon that James Martin Baca, 37, and Rebecca Irene Temme, 35, were arrested. Both suspects are Sacramento residents.
Turnbull said that homicide detectives quickly focused on Baca and Temme during the investigation into the murder, and believed the pair had stolen Montoya’s vehicle after the murder. Baca and Temme were reportedly spotted in that vehicle near Menlo Park, and a high speed chase began. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Menlo Park Police Department, and Redwood City Police Department, the Baca and Temme were eventually arrested after crashing the vehicle and trying to run officers on foot.
Investigators said a 9-1-1 call came in to the Sheriff’s Communication Center just after 11:45 p.m. on March 19. The caller reported a gunshot heard from a room inside the motel in the 3200 block of Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento. Deputies said they found Montoya inside the motel room with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
At the time investigators said they believed there was some sort of "animosity between (Baca, Temme and Montoya) which led to a robbery and the murder."
Turnbull said that Temme and Martin were both arrested for robbery, murder, and violation of parole conditions. Both of them were booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail, and are currently ineligible for bail. They will be arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court on Wednesday, March 22.