2 murder suspects arrested after dismembered remains found at Nipomo golf course
Two murder suspects were arrested Tuesday after the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reportedly discovered the dismembered remains of a missing person at a Nipomo golf course on Monday.
The person was reported missing in December 2018 and there has been an investigation into the case ever since, according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Once the remains are verified by the Coroner’s Bureau, the person’s identity will be released, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office, with the help of the Sheriff’s Office dive team, searched the lake at Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo as part of the ongoing investigation, according to the news release.
The person’s remains were found in a lake on the golf course property Monday, according to the release.
Shortly after midnight Tuesday, sheriff’s detectives served a search and arrest warrant in the 2200 block of Professional Parkway in Santa Maria, about 25 minutes south of the golf course, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s detectives arrested Santa Maria residents Kimberly Machleit, 35, and Donald Anderson, 37.
Machleit was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on felony charges of murder with special circumstances and conspiracy. She was being held in lieu of $2,000,000 bail, the release said.
Anderson was booked into the jail for a felony count of accessory to murder and was being held on $1,000,000 bail, according to the release.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested Machleit and Anderson in late August on suspicion of possession of fraudulently acquired vehicles, stolen and illegally modified firearms and drugs. They were released from jail custody without bail due to COVID-19.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, detectives believe the victim was murdered and dismembered in Santa Maria before being taken to the golf course in December 2018. However, their remains were not discovered for nearly two years.
Sheriff’s detectives said the victim and suspects knew each other and it is believed the act was intentional.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 805-681-4171.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 4:20 PM.
