Believed to be arrestee’s girlfriend
A 37-year-old man was charged with murdering a woman–believed to be his girlfriend–whose charred body was found in the trunk of a car in Quartz Hill on Dec. 20.
Matthew Switalski was charged with one count of murder and one count of arson of an inhabited structure or property, and is being held without bail. He is scheduled for arraignment at the Antelope Valley Courthouse on Jan. 18.
The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 27-year-old Veronica Aguilar. Her cause of death is deferred pending further investigation. Switalski was arrested around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, in Kern County and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s officials said Switalski owns the home in the 41400 block of 38th Street West Aguilar’s body was found around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, when fire crews extinguished a fire in the garage. Aguilar’s body was found in the trunk of a car that was parked in the garage, sheriff’s officials said.
Neighbors told reporters the woman was a teacher, and the suspect is believed to be her boyfriend. The family said Aguilar was a UCLA graduate and elementary school teacher.
“My little sister Veronica was taken from us on Dec. 20, 2023 [and] her story is all over the news of her brutal death,” her brother, Juan Aguilar, wrote. “Things will never be the same ever again. We miss her so much. She had the best spirit, she always had a smile. My family is heartbroken.”
Jail records show Switalski was also arrested in May on suspicion of an unspecified felony. He is a former Northrop Grumman employee, ABC7 reported.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
