Woman Left To Die In Menifee Field: Police

MENIFEE, CA — A 53-year-old woman who was found dead over the weekend in Menifee was likely the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

The body of San Bernardino resident Lucia Delgado was found shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday in a dirt field near the intersection of McCall Boulevard and Aspel Road, according to the Menifee Police Department.

She had injuries "consistent with being struck by a vehicle," according to police.

A preliminary law enforcement investigation showed Delgado was in the westbound lanes of McCall Boulevard, just east of Aspel Road, when she was hit by a vehicle traveling in the same direction.

"The driver of the vehicle failed to remain on scene and fled the area," according to police. "Investigators are actively attempting to identify and locate the vehicle involved."

Monday night, police arrested a suspect: Miguel Angel Castillo, 28, of Menifee was apprehended and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in French Valley on suspicion of hit-and-run resulting in great bodily injury or death.

Castillo posted a $75,000 bond and was released a few hours later.

Menifee police spokesman Chase Coburn said Castillo allegedly plowed into the victim while traveling at an unconfirmed speed in his Honda Pilot.

Detectives developed undisclosed leads Monday afternoon that pointed to the suspect. When they went to his residence on Wilkes Drive, they located his Honda "with significant collision damage consistent with the [hit-and-run]," Coburn said.

Castillo was taken into custody without incident. Background information on him was unavailable.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information is asked to call Officer Pisciuneri with the Menifee Police Traffic unit at 951-746-8829, or the traffic unit at 951-723-1500.

—City News Service contributed to this report.