Police seek rape clues

Forensic evidence stored in a shared database linked a Stanton man accused of killing a woman in Anaheim to a rape in a Costa Mesa hotel, authorities said Thursday.

Anaheim police arrested Waymon Livingston, 24, of Stanton, charging him with murder and raping three women.

The murder charge includes a special circumstance for rape, authorities said.

Authorities believe he could be connected to other assaults and are appealing to the public to step forward with information.

One woman was raped Aug. 21, 2005 in an Anaheim parking lot, police said. Then another woman was raped in a Stanton hotel room Oct. 25, 2006. The Costa Mesa assault happened May 7, according to authorities.

Livingston contacted a masseuse through Craigslist for a private session at the Best Western on Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa Sgt. Bryan Glass said. During the session, Livingston propositioned the woman for sex and she refused.

Livingston allegedly strangled the woman until she passed out, Glass said. When she woke up hours later she went to Fountain Valley Hospital, Glass said.

“We collected DNA from her person and crime scene and turned it into the crime lab,” but investigators didn’t make the connection until months later, Glass said.

After Livingston was arrested in connection with the three rapes, investigators were able to link him to the Sept. 9 slaying in Anaheim of Melissa Ann Gonzalez, 21, of Sacramento, through DNA evidence, authorities said.

Orange County Superior Court records also show Livingston has two open cases for grand theft in March and an alleged forgery from last year.

Livingston faces life without the possibility of parole on the murder charge, prosecutors said. He also faces multiple life sentences on the rape allegations.

Livingston is being held in Orange County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 30 for his arraignment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Anaheim Sgt. Rick Martinez at (714) 647-7041 or Glass at (714) 754-5090.

KELLY STRODL may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at kelly.strodl@latimes.com.