Miguel Angel Villegas Pacheco has been taken into custody by the Visalia
Police Department.
He's booked at the Tulare County Jail, facing a murder charge.
Pacheco is accused of murdering his 14-year old stepson Dameian
"Luke" Gulley.
Now police and neighbors are talking about the alleged
crime.
KSEE24's Lemor Abrams is live in the studio with the latest on
the investigation.
We still don't know the motive of the boy's death, but Wednesday, police revealed more details into how he was found.
Dameian "Luke" Gulley, a 14-year old boy with autism, lived with his mother and stepfather in Visalia.
Until his family says he disappeared on his way to school, last Monday.
On Thursday, a park employee hiking with her dog in the Sequoia National
Forest found Dameian's body.
And the FBI got involved in Visalia P.D's investigation.
"Because of the location that the body was found-federal land," said FBI
Special Agent John Gliatta.
Friends at Valley Oak Middle School began mourning... with heartwarming
pictures and messages.
Dameian's mom was at the memorial.
His stepfather was not.
After further investigation, Pacheco...Dameian's stepfather was arrested on
suspicion of murder.
"Due to the location of the body and evidence on scene, we knew there was
foul play at that time," said Chief Colleen Mestas of the Visalia Police Department.
Neighbors say they don't know the Pacheco family very well, but they're not
surprised to hear investigators say Dameian's death may not have been an
accident.
"We've been fearful you know...the worst was going to happen to young
Dameian...our prayers were with the family but it's horrible it had to end like
this," said a neighbor.
The cause of the boy's death has not been released. As for the mom, she's not
in custody, but the investigation continues.