SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for the special circumstances strangling-murder of a 61-year-old victim inside a Stanton motel room. Michael Anthony Aparicio, 27, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder with a sentencing enhancement allegation for murder during the commission of a robbery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence oflife in state prison without the possibility of parole. Aparicio is scheduled to be arraigned today, Nov. 9, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2015, Aparicio is accused of meeting with 61-year-old Floyd Taylor inside Taylor's motel room at the Chester Inn Motel in Stanton. Motel surveillance footage showed the victim left his motel room alone and returned to the room twice within the next hour. After he returned to the room, Aparicio is accused of wrapping a bungee cord around the victim's neck and strangling the victim. Aparicio is accused of then placing a pillow over the victim's face and pulling the bed covers up over the victim's body before taking the victim's wallet and fleeing the scene.

The next day, Aparicio is accused of attempting to use Taylor's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) card at a gas station in Garden Grove, but the card was declined. Aparicio is accused of giving the victim's SSI card to an acquaintance and telling him that he had found a wallet. Later that day the acquaintance attempted to use the card at a bowling alley.

The investigation in this case is ongoing. The Orange County Sheriff's Department arrested Aparicio in his vehicle near Schweitzer Park in Anaheim on Nov. 5, 2015.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case TBA / November 09, 2015