LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA: Harrowing details related to the murder of a beloved young woman have come to light after she was killed last weekend in Laguna Beach, California. Tatum Goodwin, who was only 27 at the time of her tragic demise, met her fate at around 1 pm last Sunday, November 12, just steps away from the restaurant where she worked for the past four years, after leaving one of her favorite bars.
Dino Fabrizio Rojas-Moreno, 26, was formally charged by Orange County prosecutors on Friday, November 17, with a special condition, a feature of law akin to a sentencing enhancement, of committing murder in the commission of a kidnapping. He was also charged with one felony enhancement of personal use of a deadly weapon. Moreno was arrested on murder charges on Wednesday, November 15.
Tatum Goodwin's friend remembers her at vigil
“She was a ‘bring-you-Carl’s-Jr-to-work-and-sit-with-you-while-you’re-stuck-working-on-Thanksgiving’ friend,” Goodwin’s best friend, Madison Moyer, said at a vigil held Wednesday evening. “She was a ‘just-wants-to-spread-love-light-and-happiness’ friend," she added.
Dino Fabrizio Rojas-Moreno approached Tatum Goodwin in a downtown parking lot
According to the investigators, Moreno approached Goodwin in a downtown parking lot and began attacking her near her car. After that, they claimed that the defendant dragged her to the back of the parking lot, down an alleyway, and to a secluded area behind a former movie theater building that was under construction.
There, Moreno reportedly beat Goodwin to death with a fire extinguisher, prosecutors allege. When Goodwin’s body was found, a sandbag was covering her head, according to law enforcement.
ABC West Coast flagship KABC confirmed on Friday, November 17, that Moreno worked as a bartender in the Orange County area. According to KITV, the killer didn't show up to work on the day of the murder.
Both law enforcement and the victim’s family are still unsure if the killer knew the victim beforehand. Moreno is being detained without bail and his arraignment is slated for November 20 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Where did Tatum Goodwin work?
Goodwin worked as an assistant manager at Carmelita’s, a Mexican restaurant on Broadway in downtown Laguna Beach. She was considered a “family member” by the eatery’s owner, Michael Heredia. The victim went out for drinks at nearby Hennessey’s Tavern after work on Saturday night, November 11.
“For me, it wasn’t just losing a friend. It’s clearly almost losing a family member,” Heredia told The CW West Coast flagship KTLA., adding “I knew that she always had my back, and I always had her back also when she needed things.”
The restaurateur organized a GoFundMe
The restaurateur organized a GoFundMe to build a permanent memorial downtown and to help her family with funeral expenses. “I see you in absolutely everything,” Moyer said at the candlelight vigil where flowers, speeches, and tears commemorated the loss.
“I hate that you told me you felt like your life was just getting started, and for the first time, you finally felt like you were beginning to have this life thing down. I will never recover from this, but I will do my best to carry your legacy of love with everyone because I know that’s what you would want," Moyer added.
