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Man Arrested For Obstructing Justice In Norma Lopez Case

KESQ obtained a photo of a man who was arrested for obstruction of justice at a home they were serving a search warrant at.

Detectives say evidence they collected may be linked to the disappearance and slaying of 17-year-old Norma Lopez of Moreno Valley.

A neighbor snapped the shot as the Sheriff’s Department served warrants on Tuesday at a home on Pegasus Drive in Moreno Valley.

Eric Muswaswa, 42, was arrested Tuesday morning as the warrants were being served.

Detectives also towed away a green SUV, which was similar to the one witnesses say they saw speeding away from the area Lopez disappeared from on July 15.

Neighbors said Muswaswa was the head of the household.

The home on Pegasus is near Bay Avenue and Morrison Street, about three blocks from the field where authorities believe Lopez was kidnapped July 15 while walking home from Valley View High School.

The only witness account was that a green SUV sped away from the area around 10 a.m. that day, about the time Norma would have been walking home from school.

Police found her belongings in the field and said there were signs of a struggle.

Lopez’s body was discovered five days later in a remote field off Theodore Avenue, about two and a half miles to the east.

Homicide detectives said they believe Lopez was abducted by a stranger and killed because nothing in her past pointed to any acquaintances as suspects.

For the past month, detectives have not released any details about the case, including suspect information or a cause of death. A check of nearly every sex offender in the area ruled out any suspects, detectives said.

The case drew national attention and prompted the community to rally together as parents grew concerned for their children’s safety.

Moreno Valley police have added extra patrols around schools, and community groups have banded together for neighborhood watch programs, the Press-Enterprise reported.

Moreno Valley police, whose services are provided by the Sheriff’s Department, are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Lopez’s death.

Anyone with information was urged to call a 24-hour hot line at 1-877- 242-4345 or e-mail here.

Stay with KESQ for more on this breaking news story.

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