Body found in Central California golf course lake; 2 arrested

SANTA MARIA, Calif. —  Two people were arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of a person whose dismembered body was found in a lake at a Central California golf course, authorities said.

Kimberly Machleit, 35, of Santa Maria, was arrested on suspicion of murder with special circumstances and conspiracy, according to a statement from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

Donald Anderson, 37, also of Santa Maria, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder.

It wasn’t clear whether they had attorneys.

The victim, whose name wasn’t released, is believed to be a person who went missing nearly two years ago, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The missing-person investigation led to Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo, where divers found human remains Monday, authorities said.

“It appears that the victim was murdered in the city of Santa Maria and dismembered before being disposed of at the golf course in December 2018,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “The suspects and the victim knew each other, and this was not a random act.”

No other details were immediately provided.

Machleit, Anderson and another man had been free on bail after they were arrested last month in Santa Maria on suspicion of possessing drugs for sale and being felons in possession of firearms.

Authorities seized methamphetamine, heroin, materials related to narcotics sales and several illegal or stolen guns, including a sawed-off shotgun, according to the Sheriff’s Office.