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Man charged in domestic murder

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A Santa Clarita man was charged this week with murdering his boyfriend, a 20-year-old UC San Diego student whose body was found at the defendant’s home.

Christian Alexander Ortiz, 21, is set to be arraigned Nov. 16 at the San Fernando courthouse for allegedly killing Brayan “Brian” Rodriguez last Friday. The 20-year-old victim’s body was found two days later in Ortiz’s closet, and Ortiz was arrested about 3 a.m. Monday, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies went to the home in the 23600 block of Via Valer in Santa Clarita about 4 p.m. Sunday after receiving a call that a man was not breathing. The victim appeared to have been strangled, according to the sheriff’s department.

Friends and relatives had spent much of the weekend searching for Rodriguez, passing out flyers with his photo to area residents.

On Monday, relatives and acquaintances of the victim told reporters that Ortiz lived at the home where the body was found and that Ortiz was Rodriguez’s boyfriend.

If convicted as charged, Ortiz could face up to 25 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

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