Arrest made in Covina woman's death

An arrest has been made in connection with the stabbing death of a woman whose family found her body in her minivan after police released it to them.

Joseph Orta, 35, of Azusa, who at least one family member has said he suspected from the outset, was charged with the murder of Eileen Ponce-Orta, 22, of Covina Friday.

According to an uncle of Ponce-Orta, Orta had a romantic interest in Ponce-Orta.

Orta is a relative of of Ponce-Orta's husband, Nicholas Orta.

Nicholas Orta reported his wife missing on Valentine's Day, and her minivan was found the following day abandoned at Pomona Superior Court.

Without performing a thorough search, police released the van to relatives, who then discovered Ponce-Orta's body inside.

Joseph Orta has been in jail since Feb. 16 when he was arrested on a parole violation stemming from a conviction for attacking his step-father with a deadly weapon in 2002.

After six months worth of investigating, detectives presented their case to the district attorney's office.