Behind the Badge
The Tustin PD has arrested two suspects in the Dec. 9 fatal stabbing of a 62-year-old Tustin man in what investigators believed was a street robbery.
Miguel Orellana, 19, of Anaheim, and Erika Pineda, 25, of Santa Ana were arrested Saturday, Dec. 28, following an exhaustive investigation, the TPD announced in a news release Tuesday, Dec. 31.
They are suspected of killing David Nakaki with a single stab wound. Nakaki was found near the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Norwood Park Place at around 8:45 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.
Despite life-saving efforts by the responding officers and Orange County Fire Authority personnel, Nakaki died a short time later at a local hospital.
“Tustin Police Department detectives began working tirelessly on this case and quickly identified a vehicle that may have been involved,” the TPD said in the news release. “After weeks of non-stop investigation, detectives located the vehicle in Santa Ana and positively identified it as being at the scene of the crime. As a result, two suspects were identified.”
Orellana and Pineda are in custody at the Orange County Jail.
“DNA evidence, witness statements, and outstanding investigative work led the Tustin Police Department to arrest both suspects for this heinous and senseless crime,” the TPD said in a news release. “It appears robbery was the motive.”
If anyone has any further information regarding this case, please call the dedicated tip line at (714) 426-2400.
