With domestic violence case pending, California man arrested for killing a former romantic partner

A 36-year-old Anaheim man, out on bond while a domestic violence case was pending, was charged Tuesday with murder in the death of an ex-girlfriend, Orange County court records show.

Aaron Stevan Romo also faces an enhancement of a secondary offense committed while released from custody, court records show. He was scheduled to make his first appearance on the new charges Tuesday.

Romo was arrested in Riverside County hours after police responded to an apartment in the 1900 block of South Union Street in Anaheim and found 24-year-old Mirelle Mateus of La Palma dead inside just before 2:30 p.m. on March 17, police said.

Detectives determined Mateus was killed and identified Romo as the suspect, police said, but they did not provide details on Mateus’ injuries or what evidence they had linking Romo to the crime.

Romo was being held without bail, police said.

Detectives said Romo and Mateus were previously in a romantic relationship.

Court records show Romo was charged with corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, false imprisonment, resisting a peace officer and battery stemming from a Dec. 5 incident. He pleaded not guilty and that case was still pending.

He was released after posting $100,000 bond, court records show.

It was not known if Mateus was the victim in that case and Anaheim police declined to comment.

Romo’s criminal history includes misdemeanor convictions for disturbing the peace, violating a protective order and reckless driving, court records show.

Detectives believe Romo has assaulted other women in the past, and asked anyone with previous contact with Romo to come forward, the news release said. Anyone with information related to the homicide or Romo can contact  Anaheim police at 714-321-3669 or  Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or www.occrimestoppers.org

Staff writer Nathaniel Percy contributed to this report.