Investigation ongoing in business owner’s death

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of a Newport Beach owner of a bail bonds company, a department spokesman said.

Dean Patrick Maldonado, 49, was shot at least twice by an unspecified type of handgun shortly before midnight Saturday at a private residence in Rancho Santa Margarita, said Jim Amorimino, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Department.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Maldonado entered the home on the 21300 block of Stonetower Lane through an unlocked sliding glass backdoor. Property records indicate that it is the residence of Linda Shaw, a personal trainer who owns a company called Body Balance.

Maldonado was involved romantically with Shaw in the past and property records indicate that at one point the couple lived together, Sheriff’s Department investigator Dan Salcedo said.

However, Salcedo said that he could not confirm or deny if the relationship was still ongoing.

At the time of Maldonado’s arrival Saturday night, Shaw also had another guest: a 51-year-old male. Neighbors heard yelling right before hearing multiple shots fired, The Times reported.

While no arrests have been made, investigators do have the handgun and are preparing to present evidence to the Orange County district attorney’s office, Salcedo said.

“People tend to think that whenever someone gets shot that it warrants an arrest,” Salcedo said. “That isn’t always the case.”

Maldonado was not the owner of the gun, Amorimino said.

An autopsy was performed at noon today. Salcedo said that he would be able to provide more information later, but not until after talking to Maldonado’s family.

Maldonado is survived by three adult children, Matthew, Megan and Mitch Maldonado.

The family could not be reached for comment Monday.