Oceanside CA— On Friday, October 19, 2018, Oceanside Police Detectives were notified of a DNA match from the Homicide scene of John Roth that occurred on August 14, 2018 at 530 North Tremont Street. The contributor of that DNA was identified as Carey Lamont Reid Jr, DOB 09-04-97 an Oceanside transient.
On August 14, 2018 just before 7:00am, Oceanside Police responded to a call of a non-breathing male at 530 North Tremont Street. The victim, John Roth, a 77-year-old male, was discovered by his wife Zui (pronounced Dree) Pang when she returned home from her employment at a local nursing home.
When the Oceanside Fire Department Paramedics and Officers from the Oceanside Police Department arrived, they discovered they were dealing with a homicide. Mr. Roth had sustained trauma to his upper body and was pronounce deceased at the scene.
During a press conference in September announcing an increase in the reward for information leading to an arrest in this case, Oceanside Police Detective Erik Ellgard said; “We have recovered a significant amount of evidence from the crime scene including potential fingerprints and DNA all of which has been sent to the San Diego County Crime Lab in hopes of identifying a suspect. The detective said he believes Mr. Roth was attacked while he was sleeping in his residence, a 3 story duplex on the SE corner of Surfrider and Tremont.
Sunday morning, October 21, 2018, OPD officers responded to a call at 515 North Coast Highway of a person laying in the parking lot. Upon arrival they contacted Carey Reid. This location is directly behind the victims (John Roth) Tremont Street residence.
Detective Ellgard responded and subsequently arrested Carey Reid for the homicide.
Reid was booked into the San Diego County Detention Facility for the homicide of John Roth.