Suspect identified in apparent Morro Bay homicide

Police on Friday arrested a registered sex offender on suspicion of murder after a

59-year-old Morro Bay man was found dead in his home.

Morro Bay police were investigating the death Friday after being notified by the CHP about 6 a.m. that the CHP had been in contact with 22-year-old William Joel Schonberger in the Avila Beach area.

Schonberger told them he had injured a relative in Morro Bay. He was detained by the CHP and later taken into custody by Morro Bay police.

Officers found the body of a man at the home on the 400 block of Napa Avenue. An active investigation was continuing Friday evening. The identity of the victim has not been released.

Police say they believe the suspect acted alone.

The San Luis Obispo County crime scene detectives and the county District Attorney’s Office were assisting Morro Bay police detectives.

A preliminary investigation revealed a large, blade-style weapon was used during the incident.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of his family.

According to Megan’s Law records, William Joel Schonberger is a sex offender registered at the home where the victim was found. San Luis Obispo County property records show the house is owned by John Schonberger.

Court records show William Schonberger was on probation after pleading guilty or no contest to child pornography possession charges in Los Angeles County in 2014.

Homicide shocks neighbors

Morro Bay residents were stunned and saddened Friday to learn about the murder of their neighbor.

Several expressed shock as they moved throughout their neighborhood, which became a crime scene early in the morning. Cones blocked cars and foot traffic from entering Napa Avenue. Drivers gawked at the scene as they traveled through.

Gary Masserotes, who lives next door to the victim, said he didn’t hear anything that would suggest a homicide. Masserotes said he’d only lived on the street for about six months and didn’t know his neighbor.

Even so, he said he was “obviously pretty shocked,” although he wasn’t concerned about his own safety.

“I think it’s a localized issue,” Masserotes said.

Angela Worthington, who lives on nearby Shasta Avenue, drove by Napa Avenue to check out the scene. She said she’d taken a walk through the neighborhood Thursday night and hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

“It was dead quiet.”

“It’s so upsetting this morning, this happening,” Worthington said. “This stuff doesn’t happen here.”

Victim ‘a hell of a nice guy’

Roommates Erica Brenneise and Guy Thompson, who also live next door to the victim, came out of their house to smoke and walk their neighbor’s dog. They described the victim as a chatty man who came to Morro Bay from Southern California to retire from his drywall business.

“He was a hell of a nice guy,” Thompson said.

Brenneise said she’d talk to her neighbor over the fence separating their properties when she came outside to smoke.

“We’d sit there, just like on ‘Home Improvement,’ ” she said.

The two said they heard police pounding on their neighbor’s door early in the morning.

“It’s just sad that he comes to retire and then this happens,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the victim’s son also lived at the house.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call the Morro Bay Police Department at 805-772-6225 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867.

Callers should refer to case No. 16001525.

This story was originally published December 9, 2016 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Suspect identified in apparent Morro Bay homicide."