A young preschool teacher who worked on the campus of Stanford University has been arrested for murder, along with her friend, following an investigation into a killing that took place in Santa Cruz County.
Who is Diana Ornelas? 22-year-old Diana Ornelas and her friend arrested and charged for murder in California
Diana Ornelas, 22, and Dennis Novoa, 27, allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Oliver Waterfall on April 11.
His body was discovered on a hillside off Highway 9. Authorities have said that they believe the motive for the killing was personal, as Ornelas and Novoa knew Waterfall.
Ornelas worked at the Children’s Center of the Stanford Community, a child care center on campus.
According to a Stanford University spokesperson, Ornelas was arrested during nap time, outside of the perimeter of the CCSC campus, and that children were not present when this occurred, and it did not disrupt operations.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the arrests were made after weeks of investigation, including interviews and the review of surveillance footage related to the case.
Ornelas is no longer employed at the preschool, according to FOX 2 San Francisco. Both suspects are in jail without bail.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the case and is encouraging anyone with information related to the incident to call 831-454-7702.
This shocking incident has left many people stunned, and it is especially troubling given that it involved a young teacher who worked at a child care center.
Authorities will undoubtedly continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder to ensure that justice is served.
Aiva Arthur
