Woman stabbed to death in Merced, one man arrested, the Sheriff’s Office reports

An argument over the weekend at a home on the eastern outskirts of Merced left one woman dead and a man behind bars, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The victim, a 40-year-old Merced woman, suffered at least one stab wound and was pronounced dead inside a bedroom at her home in the 600 block of Easy Street, Undersheriff Jason Goins said.

Sheriff’s investigators arrested 51-year-old Raul Antonio Loeza on suspicion of murder. He remained in custody Sunday at the Merced County jail with bail set at $1 million, according to booking records.

Goins described the relationship between Loeza and the victim as “family” and confirmed they lived together. He declined to elaborate on their exact relationship, citing a need to notify the woman’s family. The victim’s name also was withheld Sunday.

Deputies were called to the home at 11:40 p.m. Saturday after someone reported a possible stabbing. Deputies found the woman in a bedroom and tried “live-saving measures” but she died a short time later, Goins said.

The undersheriff said it was too early to comment on a possible motive for Saturday’s violence but confirmed Loeza and the woman were arguing just before she was stabbed.

Loeza was located nearby and arrested without incident.

A knife believed to have been used in the slaying was seized by detectives.

This story was originally published May 19, 2019 at 2:19 PM.