The ex-roommate of Maribel Ramos was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder after the missing Army veteran was found dead Thursday near Modjeska Canyon in Orange County, authorities said.

Ramos, a 36-year-old Cal State Fullerton student just a few weeks shy of graduation, had been missing since the first week of May. Orange police said a body found in the brush Thursday in unincorporated Orange County near Santiago Canyon Road and Jackson Ranch Road was identified as Ramos after an autopsy.

Police said the roommate, Kwang Chol “KC” Joy, 54, voluntarily submitted to an interview with detectives after he was contacted Friday morning. He was later arrested on suspicion of Ramos’ murder.

Police declined to release additional information, saying the case was being submitted to the Orange County district attorney’s office.


Ramos was reported missing May 3 after she failed to show up to a speaking engagement at a veterans group event and a softball game.

A person identifying himself as “Kc K” posted earlier this week on a Yelp forum on the search for Ramos.

“i am maribel’s roommate. she is my bff and my only family,” the person wrote Monday. “i miss her so much. she always knew that i will give my life for her without any hesitation.”

That person wrote that police had searched their two-bedroom apartment repeatedly, with police dogs, seizing computer hard drives and cellphones.


“they contacted everyone on my phone list and i don’t know when i will get my properties back,” the person wrote. “these are major inconvenience, but all these doesn’t matter. i miss maribel.”

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Twitter: @vicjkim, @RaR

victoria.kim@latimes.com

rick.rojas@latimes.com