Inmate charged in murder of Huntington Beach woman found in ice chest

WHITTIER, Calif. (KABC) -- A man already serving prison time has been arrested and charged in connection to the murder of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found stuffed inside an ice chest in a stolen vehicle in unincorporated Whittier last year, authorities said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say Anthony Moreno, 38, shot and killed Dawn McEveety at a residence in the 11900 block of 183rd Street in Artesia on Nov. 24, 2015.

The Huntington Beach woman's body was found five days later in an abandoned 1991 Toyota Celica near the 8600 block of Bradwell Avenue in unincorporated Whittier.

The victim's parents said McEveety -- who went by Molly -- left a drug rehab program and wasn't living at home, and she was rarely returning their phone calls.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare. We were always worried that something like this might happen when she got with the wrong crowd. And it's happened," said Maura McEveety-Sepa, who adopted the victim at 16 months of age.

Moreno was arrested sometime after the murder on an unrelated charge and incarcerated. On Thursday, Moreno was charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He's being held in lieu of about $2 million bail.

Investigators believe additional suspects may have assisted Moreno in disposing of McEveety's body.

Anyone with information on this case was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be placed with Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-8477.