A woman who had been a teacher at a Stanford University-affiliated preschool has been arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities say.
Rafe Swan/Getty ImageA woman who had been a teacher at a Stanford University-affiliated preschool has been arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities say.
Diana Ornelas, 22, of Santa Clara was arrested Wednesday during nap time at the preschool,according to the Stanford Daily, two weeks after the body of Oliver Waterfall, 24, was found on a hillside off Highway 9 in Santa Cruz County, according to a news release from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and ruled it a homicide, according to the sheriff.
Ornelas worked at the Children’s Center of the Stanford Community preschool, the Stanford Daily student newspaper reported, until her arrest on campus this week. The cooperative preschool provides child care for Stanford faculty, staff and students.
The arrest occurred outside the preschool when no children were present and did not disrupt operations, the university said in an email to community members.
“We are all shocked and distressed by this news because CCSC is a place and community that means so much to all of us,” it said. “We hope and believe that we can support each other in light of this difficult news. The care and well-being of our children is the number one priority for CCSC.”
Dennis Novoa, 27, of San Jose was also arrested in connection with the case, the Sheriff’s Office said. Waterfall knew him and Ornelas, according to the agency, which said the “motive of the homicide is believed to be of a personal nature.” Detectives conducted interviews and reviewed surveillance footage related to the case before making the arrests, the agency said.
Ornelas was originally held on $1 million bail, the Stanford Daily reported. She was in court Friday for her arraignment, which was continued to May 17, according to court records. She remains in custody without bail.
Reach Elena Kadvany: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com
