California Bartender Arrested and Charged with Special Circumstances Murder in Death of Tatum Goodwin

Accident – Death – Obituary News : A bartender from California has been taken into custody and charged with special circumstances murder after a woman was allegedly beaten to death with a fire extinguisher, according to authorities. The incident occurred in Laguna Beach, where police responded to a report of a deceased woman on November 12. The Orange County Sheriff Coroner’s Division later identified the victim as Tatum Goodwin, a 27-year-old resident of San Clemente. The arrest of the suspect, Dino Rojas-Moreno, 26, took place on November 15.

Following an examination of the evidence, investigators honed in on Rojas-Moreno as the primary suspect in Goodwin’s death, as reported by the City of Laguna Beach. He has since been charged with one count of murder, with additional felony enhancements for the special circumstances of committing the murder in the course of a kidnapping, as well as for the personal use of a fire extinguisher as a weapon. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office released a statement detailing the charges.

Rojas-Moreno is currently being held on a $1 million bail. The discovery of Goodwin’s body was made by a construction worker around 8:20 a.m. on November 12 at a construction site along S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Her body had been concealed under a chain-link fence, with a sandbag placed over her head.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Rojas-Moreno allegedly approached Goodwin at approximately 1 a.m. on November 12 in a parking lot near the location where her body was later found. It is believed that he assaulted her by her car before forcibly dragging her to a secluded area behind a movie theatre still under construction. It was there that he allegedly proceeded to beat Goodwin to death using a fire extinguisher.

On the day of the incident, Rojas-Moreno failed to show up for work, claiming that he had been attacked by a group of men in Santa Ana. The nature of the relationship between Rojas-Moreno and Goodwin remains unclear. While both individuals worked in the Laguna Beach area, Goodwin’s family has stated that they were not acquainted with Rojas-Moreno, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Goodwin had been employed as an assistant manager at Carmelita’s Restaurants for four years. In response to her tragic death, the restaurant’s owner, Marcos Salim Heredia, organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for memorial services and to create a memorial within the city. Heredia expressed his deep sadness and described Goodwin as a hardworking individual who always had a smile on her face. He emphasized that she was considered a family member by the restaurant staff.

At the time of the incident, Rojas-Moreno was working as a bartender at The Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill, as reported by The Orange County Register. Authorities have assured the public that this was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his sorrow over the loss of an innocent life and vowed to seek justice for Goodwin. He emphasized the significance of her life and condemned the brutal manner in which it was ended and her body discarded. Rojas-Moreno is scheduled to be arraigned on November 20 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Due to the special circumstances charge, Rojas-Moreno could potentially face the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted. The investigation into this tragic incident continues, as authorities work to ensure that justice is served for Tatum Goodwin..