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Monday, April 11, 2022

Armed Kneeland Murder Suspect Arrested in Santa Cruz

Posted By Kimberly Wear @kimberly_wear on Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 1:46 PM

A 27-year-old Rhode Island man wanted in connection with the homicide of a woman found dead in her home April 2 was arrested in Santa Cruz on Sunday, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

The victim has been identified as Emily Rose May Lobba. She was 28.

Austin Michael Medeiros was taken into custody by the Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol around 4 p.m. after he reportedly tried to steal a boat. After being handed over to the city's police department, SCPD officers reported finding a loaded stolen firearm and almost 30 gram of psychodelic mushrooms, a news release states.

Medeiros was booked into the Santa Cruz jail on suspicion of grand theft, carrying a stolen weapon and drug possession pending extradition to Humboldt County on suspicion of murder, evading a peace officer, assault, battery and possesion of a controlled substance. His bail is set at $1 million.

According to a previous sheriff’s office, deputies were called to Lobba's residence on the 4700 block of Greenwood Height Drive just before 11 a.m. April 2 by her caregiver, who reported finding the 28 year old dead after being physically assaulted by Medeiros, who reportedly tried to keep the caregiver from entering the home before fleeing in Lobba's car.

The caregiver told law enforcement that Lobba knew Medeiros and the two had been spending time together in recent days, according to the release. Deputies responding to the scene spotted the woman’s vehicle in the Freshwater area and began a pursuit that ended on Fickle Hill Road, where the driver, believed to be Medeiros, ditched the car and fled into the Arcata Community Forest, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Friday, the sheriff's office named Medeiros as a suspect and reported that he was believed to be heading south to Mendocino County.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

A Rhode Island man wanted for the murder of a Kneeland woman has been arrested in Santa Cruz. Austin Michael Medeiros, age 27, was taken into custody by the Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol on April 10, 2022, at approximately 4 p.m. for reportedly attempting to steal a boat. Medeiros was transferred into the custody of the Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD).

During a search of Medeiros incident to arrest, SCPD officers reportedly located a loaded stolen firearm and approximately 29.3 grams of psychedelic mushrooms in Medeiros’ possession. Medeiros is currently being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail on fresh charges of grand theft (PC 487(A)), carrying a loaded stolen firearm (PC 25850(C)(2)) and possession/transportation of a controlled substance (HS 11391).

He is pending extradition to Humboldt County on warrant charges of murder (PC 187(A)), evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2(A)), assault (PC 240), battery (PC 242) and possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(A)). His bail has been set at $1 million. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.