Matthew Switalski was charged with one count of murder and one count of arson of an inhabited structure or property, and is being held without bail. He had been expected to be arraigned Tuesday, Dec. 26, at the Antelope Valley Courthouse, but the arraignment was rescheduled for Jan. 18, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 27-year-old Veronica Aguilar. Her cause of death is deferred pending further investigation. Switalski was arrested around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, in Kern County and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s officials said Switalski owns the home in the 41400 block of 38th Street West Aguilar’s body was found around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, when fire crews extinguished a fire in the garage. Aguilar’s body was found in the trunk of a car that was parked in the garage, sheriff’s officials said.
ABC7 in Los Angeles reported that, hours before Aguilar’s body was discovered, neighbors reported hearing a “bloodcurdling” woman’s scream, followed by an explosion and then the fire. Neighbors told reporters the woman was a teacher, and the suspect is believed to be her boyfriend. The family said Aguilar was a UCLA graduate and elementary school teacher. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses at gofund.me/e834647b. As of Wednesday, Dec. 27, it had raised $22,005, surpassing its goal of $20,000.
“My little sister Veronica was taken from us on December 20 2023 [and] her story is all over the news of her brutal death,” her brother, Juan Aguilar, wrote. “Things will never be the same ever again. We miss her so much. She had the best spirit, she always had a smile. My family is heartbroken.”
Jail records show Switalski was also arrested in May on suspicion of an unspecified felony. He is a former Northrop Grumman employee, ABC7 reported.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Previous related story: Woman’s body found in Lancaster area; investigation underway
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Dave says
This starts within Palmdale School District
Crossroads says
His a scum Bag he should have picked on someone his own size But no worries now he has to deal with The Real Criminals The LA Sheriff Department!!!!
Yulya says
Is it true that this Sheriff’s Dept. ignores domestic violence and child abuse cases, like that awful story of the little boy abused and murdered by his egg donor and her boyfriend? And these people at the SD knew what was going on, got reports regularly – and never followed through.
Raytheon Employee, Old School Rhino Pilot, Mike Garcia says
Grumman…
Lily says
Domestic violence affects the suffering families for generations. Another young woman taken from her family by a predator.
Jack says
It’s a crime of passion. The sentence for that is 3 year’s in prison. Jealousy is legally classified as a mental illness