The Brown Co. Sheriff has arrested a Springfield man and charged him with second degree murder for the death of a 23-year-old woman (Amber Lechuga) whose remains were found in a burning minivan near Sleepy Eye September 25th.
Miguel Vasquez, 26, is expected to be charged Friday afternoon.
Brown Co. Sheriff Chief Deputy Jason Seidl said the suspect called 911 on Sept. 25 to report an auto accident and assault along Highway 4 south of Sleepy Eye. When police arrived they found the man partially clothed and smelling of gasoline, and the minivan engulfed in flames. The man told police he had been struck in the head and doused with gasoline. He suffered minor burns.
Law Enforcement and the Sleepy Eye Fire Department later found the remains of Luchuga in the van.
OFFICIAL BROWN CO. NEWS RELEASE
Date of Incident: 09-25-2014
Time of Incident: 2133 hours
Location of Incident: South of Sleepy Eye (approximately 3 ½ miles south on Highway 4 near the Cottonwood River)
Names, Ages, Address of Person(s) involved:
Amber Elena Lechuga 22 20 ½ East Central, Springfield Deceased
Miguel Angel Vasquez 26 20 ½ East Central, Springfield Arrested
Details of Incident: On Thursday October 2, 2014 the Brown County Sheriff’s Office received Nuclear DNA results from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension that identified the remains found in the van in the reported traffic accident/assault as that of Amber Elena Lechuga. The cause of death was determined to be homicide.
As a result of the investigation by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Miguel Angel Vasquez was arrested on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree (MnSS 609.19 subd 1(1)) in the homicide death of Amber Elena Lechuga.
Miguel Angel Vazquez was arrested without incident in Sleepy Eye on Thursday October 2, 2014 at approximately 1615 hours.
A copy of the Criminal Complaint can be obtained from the Brown County Court Administrator’s Office.
Miguel Angel Vasquez is scheduled to appear in Brown County Court on Friday 10-03-2014 at 1600 hours on the charges.
Sleepy Eye ONLINE has chosen to omit some details of the crime. Here are some links to the complete story if you would like to read more: