Man charged with wife’s murder held on $1M bail

A Huntington Beach man appeared in court Wednesday on charges he murdered his wife in a local hotel.

Fidelio Salazar Marin, 38, is the husband of a woman found fatally stabbed Friday. Huntington Beach police arrested him a few hours after discovering the body of his wife, Phyllis Mendez, at the Starlight Inn, 18382 Beach Blvd., Lt. Dave Bunetta said. Mendez was 32.

Marin’s name was initially reported as Juan Ruiz Marin, but prosecutors and court records called that an alias.

Marin was assigned a public defender at his hearing but did not enter a plea on his murder charge or the sentencing enhancement for use of a deadly weapon.

Mendez had been stabbed in the upper torso, Bunetta said.

Efforts to reach family members were unsuccessful.

Marin is being held on $1-million bail at Orange County Jail, and his full arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 7.

— Michael Alexander