Homicide victim was owner of North Merced Filipino restaurant

Details are slowly emerging in Tuesday's homicide at a Merced care home, as residents in the area believe a dispute over money may have sparked the killing.

Merced police haven't released the name of the victim, although family members and acquaintances have identified him as Benjamin Munsayac, co-owner of Traditional Filipino Cuisine restaurant in Merced.

The Merced County Coroner's Office is scheduled to conduct an autopsy at 9 a.m. today.

The suspect, Evan James Lovett, 21, remains at the Merced County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail. Police haven't commented on the motive or how the victim died.

The death happened at Accesscare Home of Merced at 128 E. Main St., a residential care home for the elderly. Police learned about the killing after the suspect was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of DUI, according to police.

Patricia Carrow, a neighbor who lives across the street from the care home, said Lovett had worked as a caretaker and lived there for about four and a half months. Two homes are located on the property. Caretakers live in the front house, while patients typically live in the rear house.

Carrow added Lovett had moved out not long ago with his girlfriend and their newborn baby. The neighbor said the couple had moved into the Gateway Motel, which has been turned into apartments.

She said Munsayac, owner and manager of the care facility property, said he'd pay Lovett $1,800, but only gave him $1,200. "That's what he had promised Evan," she said.

She said Lovett's girlfriend wanted to move back to Alaska, where they're from, and they were planning to use that money to go back. "I think he (Lovett) snapped," she said. "This was the money they were going to use to go home. That's why I think he snapped."

Juan Vasquez, a next-door neighbor to the home where the homicide occurred, said he knew Munsayac personally. "He was always in and out," Vasquez said. "He was at the restaurant most of the time."

Vasquez said he did a lot of mechanical work for Munsayac. Just three weeks ago, he'd done a full tune-up to the restaurateur's daughter's vehicle. "He was a good guy," he said.

Vasquez was aware that Lovett had worked at the home care facility. "I would see him once in awhile," he said. "He seemed like a quiet guy."

It's not the first time Lovett's been in trouble with the law. On Feb. 9, he was arrested and booked at the Merced County Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of methamphetamine, child endangerment, possession of a drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. He spent seven days in jail and his bail was set at $50,000, according to court documents.

His first court appearance was Feb. 14; on Feb. 16, he was released on the promise to keep showing up in court. His next court appearance in his prior case was scheduled for Tuesday.

When Lovett was arrested Feb. 9, police received a call about drug activity taking place in his unit at the Gateway Motel. When officers arrived, they found Lovett, his girlfriend (identified as Ann Ashley Rose) and a 1-month old baby Rose was holding among others, according to court documents.

Child Protective Services was also called to the location that day. Police said there was a strong odor of marijuana in the studio-style apartment.

Reporter Yesenia Amaro can be reached at (209) 385-2482 or yamaro@mercedsunstar.com.

This story was originally published February 22, 2012 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Homicide victim was owner of North Merced Filipino restaurant."