Man Booked for Murder in Connection with Woman's Death on 210 Freeway

By City News Service

The man suspected of driving a car from which a woman jumped or was pushed to her death on the Foothill (210) Freeway in Sylmar was booked in connection with her murder at the Van Nuys jail with $1 million bail, police in the Mission Station said via Twitter Saturday night.

One key factor in deciding to arrest was the amount of blood present on the passenger side of Maria Josefina"Josie" Jimenez's red car, which was found in the Foothill area, Mission police tweeted.

Following a public announcement that he was wanted to questioning,  26-year-old Ricardo "Rick" Jimenez turned himself in to the Glendale Police Department sometime Saturday, according to a department statement.

Maria Jimenez, 22, was killed Thursday morning on the freeway. According to police, Jimenez came out of the passenger door of the red Toyota and was killed by oncoming traffic.

Los Angeles police said they were searching for Jimenez, the alleged driver of the car, who is no relation to Josie but was allegedly having an affair with the married woman.

Detectives wanted to question Jimenez about the woman's death, according to the department statement.

"We have multiple sources who have come forward, putting Rick and Josie at a local tattoo parlor before midnight, with Rick causing a disturbance and berating Josie in front of others," LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said. "We know Rick was driving Josie's red Toyota Corolla when the two left the parlor."

Josie's estranged husband reported her missing, and police said he is not believed to have had any involvement in her death.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact Detective Gretchen Shultz of the Mission Homicide Unit at (818) 838-9951.