Merced homicide victim identified

The Merced County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim in a fatal stabbing Friday in Merced.

The victim, 41-year-old Daniel Dowen, was stabbed to death in the 3400 block of G Street, coroner’s officials confirmed Monday.

Fidel Granados Ortega, 32, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder in connection with Dowen’s death. Ortega remained in custody Tuesday at John Latorraca Correctional Facility on $1 million bail, according to booking records.

Police said Ortega and Dowen got into some type of argument at Ortega’s home just before 8 p.m. Friday. Dowen was apparently working on some type of project at the home when the fight started. Dowen was stabbed multiple times with a knife and ran to a nearby house for help, police said.

Police said Ortega fled and was arrested several hours later in the 300 block of West 18th Street.

Investigators found a knife near the crime scene, but it remained unclear Tuesday whether that knife was the weapon used in the attack, Capt. Tom Trindad said.

Ortega’s criminal history includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, child endangerment, vehicle theft, drug possession and numerous parole violations, according to Merced County Superior Court records.

Dowen’s death Friday was part of one of the deadliest weekends in recent memory in Merced County, with three total homicides.

A 16-year-old boy was shot dead Saturday in the parking lot of Tenaya Middle School in Merced. No arrests have been made. The victim’s identity had not been confirmed by the coroner’s office.

Merced police were still searching for leads and suspects in case, Trindad said.

“If anyone from the public witnessed anything or knows anything, we’d like them to call us,” he said.

Also on Saturday night, 17-year-old Luis David Leon was shot and killed near Dos Palos High School. No arrests had been made in that case. Dos Palos police have said they do not believe there is any connection between the two homicides on Saturday.

There have been six homicides reported in 2015 in Merced County; five have occurred in the city of Merced.

This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Merced homicide victim identified."