A suspect has been arrested for the Independence Day murder of a Westmorland woman.

On July 4, 2023, Westmorland Police responded to a residence in the 100 block of C Street. Officers found 70-year-old Maria Cruz deceased in the apartment, the apparent victim of homicide. The Imperial County Sheriff's Office and Imperial County District Attorney's Office conducted an extensive investigation and were able to identify and then apprehend a suspect. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, at about 6:00 a.m., investigators arrested 40-year-old Claudio Angulo, a resident of Westmorland, in connection with the murder. Angulo was booked into Imperial County Jail murder charges. Bail is set at $1 million.