East Palo Alto man arrested on suspicion of murder after missing-persons investigation
An East Palo Alto man was arrested on suspicion of murder Wednesday after investigators determined he was responsible for the death of a 32-year-old woman who went missing in early December, authorities said.
The woman’s body has not been found.
John Caisiano Thompson, 44, is suspected of killing East Palo Alto resident Breanna Labat and disposing of her body, police said Friday.
A missing persons investigation was launched Dec. 6, though information provided early in the investigation led authorities to believe Labat was murdered, interim Chief Jeff Liu said in a news release.
Thompson was expected to be formally charged and arraigned Friday afternoon, Liu said in the release.
Police did not specify an alleged motive for the killing, nor did they reveal why they had focused on and arrested Thompson.
Labat’s body was yet to be located as of Friday afternoon. The alleged homicide would be East Palo Alto’s fifth of 2022.
Those with information is asked to call Acting Commander Angel Sanchez at 650-853-3154.