Couple Charged in Connection With Rose Bowl Murder

A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Miguel Castaneda (born July 24, 1995) of Los Angeles faces one count of murder with an allegation of using a knife as a deadly and dangerous weapon.  Also charged is Valentina Rosales (born Jan. 20, 1995) of Pasadena. She faces one count of accessory after the fact. Victim Demetrio Tapia Jr., 22, was allegedly stabbed to death during a fight on Oct. 1, prosecutors said.

According to ABC 7, investigators said Castaneda and the victim got into an argument on social media several days before the incident. The two men then met at the Rose Bowl to settle the argument which turned into a physical altercation.

The criminal complaint includes allegations that Castaneda was convicted in 2017 for vehicle theft with a prior and Rosales was convicted in 2015 for second-degree robbery.

Bail for Castaneda is set at more than $2 million and at more than $1 million for Rosales. If convicted as charged, Castaneda faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years to life in state prison. Rosales faces up to six years in prison.

Arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 5 in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch. Case GA104407 was filed on Oct. 4.

Deputy District Attorney Iliana M. Alvarez is prosecuting the case.

The case remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department.

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