Home >
Local News >
Riverside County >
Lake Elsinore >
Lake Elsinore Headlines
CANYON LAKE: Strangling victim had once been witness against suspect
A Canyon Lake woman found dead once was a witness against the man now sought in her killing
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE/CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Christine Osborn-Stewart, 47, of Canyon Lake
BY SARAH BURGE AND RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
STAFF WRITERS
sburge@pe.com |
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 13 August 2012 06:54 PM
Christine Osborn-Stewarts family members say they dont know why she got involved with the convicted felon now accused of strangling her and leaving her body stuffed in a suitcase in a San Diego County motel room.
Though the Canyon Lake woman might not have suspected her boyfriend would harm her, court records show Osborn-Stewart was well aware of Joseph David Dorseys and his familys criminal ties.
Osborn-Stewart was named as a witness against Dorsey in a previous case and had appeared in court on his mothers behalf in a burglary case.
Osborn-Stewart, 47, was found dead Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Dorsey, 27, was charged Friday with murder and a warrant was issued for his arrest, authorities said. As of Monday, investigators were still searching for him.
Sheriffs officials have not disclosed a motive for Osborn-Stewarts killing. Homicide Sgt. Todd Torrenti said investigators are aware of the details of Dorseys previous case but he said it is unknown whether it might have played a role in Osborn-Stewarts killing. Its too early to tell, he said.
Dorsey, who had previous convictions for assault on an officer and misdemeanor domestic violence, was charged in February with grand theft and vehicle burglary, court records show. A Riverside County sheriffs deputy wrote in arrest warrant documents that William Chappell, the victim, said Dorsey admitted stealing more than $31,000 from him. Dorsey had supposedly made plans to repay Chappell but instead left the state, court records show.
Osborn-Stewart, identified in court documents as Dorseys ex-girlfriend, had told Chappell that Dorsey took the money and that she was willing to help him get it back, the deputy wrote.
Dorsey was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the case June 11 but instead pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in an agreement with prosecutors. He was sentenced to one year in custody but was released July 11 after receiving credit for time served and good behavior in jail, court records state. He also was ordered to pay restitution. A hearing to discuss the amount is scheduled for Friday, court records show.
Osborn-Stewart was last seen Aug. 4 with Dorsey near a business complex on Railroad Canyon Road in Canyon Lake. She was reported missing two days later after she stopped answering her cellphone and did not show up for work.
Her body was discovered by investigators acting on information from Dorseys cousin, Jillian Beaver, court records say.
According to arrest warrant documents, Beaver gained access to Dorseys voicemail and heard a message from the Best Western in Poway that said Dorsey had left behind property in his motel room and should pick it up. Investigators found Stewarts remains in a large black suitcase at the motel.
The motel clerk who checked in Dorsey identified him from a photograph, sheriffs officials said. He said he saw Dorsey wheel a large black suitcase into the motel room and later saw him drive away in a dark blue Ford Explorer.
An autopsy showed that Osborn-Stewart suffered several injuries to her head and chest area and her neck muscles and thyroid gland were severely damaged, court records state.
The Riverside County coroners office determined her cause of death to be strangulation.
Investigators have said they believe Osborn-Stewart was in Dorseys Lake Elsinore apartment before she was killed. Her mother has said her BMW was found nearby.
http://www.pe.com/local-news/rivers...nce-been-a-witness-against-murder-suspect.ece