Bartender Accused of Beating California Woman to Death With Fire Extinguisher, Covering Her Head With Sandbag
Dino Rojas-Moreno has been charged with the murder of Tatum Goodwin, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Nov. 22 2023, Published 1:30 p.m. ET
A bartender in Southern California has appeared in court for the first time since allegedly beating a woman to death with a fire extinguisher, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Dino Rojas-Moreno, 26, pleaded not guilty to murder with special circumstances at an arraignment hearing on Nov. 20, as Front Page Detectives reported.
The body of Tatum Goodwin was found on November 12 by a construction worker in Laguna Beach.
Rojas-Moreno is accused of killing 27-year-old Tatum Goodwin in Laguna Beach early in the morning on Nov. 12. He was arrested on Nov. 15, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.
The defendant approached Goodwin at a parking lot around 1 a.m. and assaulted her before dragging her through an alley and behind a movie theater that was under construction, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
That's where Rojas-Moreno allegedly beat Goodwin with the fire extinguisher and left her under a chain-link fence with a sandbag covering her head. A construction worker found her body hours later, the D.A. said.
Authorities said Rojas-Moreno allegedly beat Goodwin with a fire extinguisher.
When he didn't show up for work that day, Rojas-Moreno claimed he had been jumped by a group of men in Santa Ana.
Rojas-Moreno is charged with murder, along with a felony enhancement for committing the killing during a kidnapping and another enhancement for using a "deadly weapon," the fire extinguisher, according to the D.A.
Officials claim Rojas-Moreno did not know Goodwin before the alleged attack.
A reporter with KABC-TV spoke to family members of Goodwin outside the courtroom.
"There is no soul to look at there," Goodwin's sister told the outlet.
Another family member reportedly called the loss of their loved one "a random act of sinful hate."
Goodwin was the assistant manager of a restaurant in Laguna Beach.
Friends and family also reportedly said Goodwin did not know Rojas-Moreno.
The San Clemente woman was the assistant manager of a restaurant near the parking lot where she was allegedly attacked, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for a memorial.
"Tatum was a very hard working young lady and always kept a smile on her face," her boss said on the crowdfunding site. "We felt that we really had a family member here with us."
Rojas-Moreno also worked as a bartender nearby, but KABC-TV said it was unclear whether he was working the evening before the alleged attack.
Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free.
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Powered by RedCircle
Rojas-Moreno is eligible for the death penalty if convicted, the D.A. said. He remains in jail without bail and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 30, 2024.
“The loss of an innocent life is a travesty for the entire community,” Orange County D.A. Todd Spitzer said. “It is heartbreaking that a young woman with her entire future ahead of her had her life ended in such a brutal way and then discarded like her life never mattered."
