Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sacramento, CA: Sacramento woman killed, burned; boyfriend arrested

Written for the web byPosted By: Nick Monacelli, Multimedia Journalist

SACRAMENTO, CA - Authorities in San Francisco have confirmed the body of a woman murdered and burned in a car there is that of 23-year-old Vanessa Herrera from Sacramento.


According to friends, Herrera was last seen Sunday night after she left her 7-month-old son with his uncle.


Family members become worried when she didn't show for work on Monday.


Friends used Facebook to alert as many people as possible that Herrera was missing. Then the postings spread that she had been murdered.


On Monday morning, firefighters responded to a burning car around 3:18 a.m. in San Francisco's Lower Haight neighborhood.

Officer Albie Esparza said a woman's body was found in the car's passenger seat. The vehicle had been illegally parked on a one-way street.


Late Tuesday afternoon, the San Francisco County coroner confirmed the body was Herrera's.


On Facebook, John Anderson wrote: "That is so sad to hear. I can't believe that happened to her. I grew up with the whole family. I can't imagine what her brothers and family are going through."


Rochelle Christine said: "Something so precious and can be taken in an instant over something so little & impersonal."


Less than 24 hours after the car was burned, Almon Johnson, 30, was arrested for murder, felony arson and destroying evidence.


Police investigators say they have reason to believe Herrera was murdered in Sacramento and Johnson drove with the victim's body in the car to San Francisco where he set the car on fire.


Johnson was Herrera's boyfriend and the father of their son.


According to Sacramento Court documents, Johnson has a lengthy record including assault, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.


News10 spoke to Herrera's sister and mother Tuesday afternoon. They have decided not to make any comments yet.


Herrera is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in the Pocket area of Sacramento.


By Nick Monacelli, nick@news10.net

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