Edhat Staff
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the “person of interest” connected to a homicide in Old Town Goleta this week.
At approximately 6:42 a.m. Wednesday (November 1), Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Pine Avenue and Carson Street for a report of a subject down in the roadway.
The adult male was found dead with apparent stab wounds and the death was announced as being investigated as a homicide. The victim was later identified as 57-year-old Efrain Alvarado Morales from Goleta.
That same morning deputies located an adult male with injuries in the area, who they detained as a person of interest. The subject was transported to an area hospital for treatment for his injuries.
That person has now been identified as 42-year-old Marino Luis Diaz from Goleta. Diaz was arrested at 7:51 p.m. on Wednesday for murder and is being held without bail.
On Friday, Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced that charges have been filed against Diaz for premeditated 1st Degree Murder and a Special Enhancement for Personal Use of a Knife.
Diaz still remains at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment to his injuries.
The case is set for further arraignment on November 6, 2023, in Santa Barbara Superior Court, Department 8 at 11:00 a.m.
This investigation remains ongoing and detectives plan to share additional information when it becomes available. Anyone with information to assist investigators is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division by calling (805)681-4150. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can provide information by calling our tip line at (805)681-4171 or SBSheriff.org.
