Corona Pair’s Move to Area Traced

A Corona couple charged with murdering their nephew this week left a rural town in Washington state in October within days of reporting the boy’s older brother missing, police said Thursday.

Raul Ricardo Sarinana, 38, and Cathy Sarinana, 29, were charged Wednesday in the death of Ricky Morales, 11, who lived with them in the 1100 block of Belle Avenue.

Police found Ricky’s body and that of another boy, believed to be Ricky’s missing brother, Conrad Morales, 13, the day after Christmas.

The boys had gone to live with the Sarinanas in Lewis County, Wash., about a year ago after their mother, Rosa Morales, was sent to prison on drug charges, relatives said.

On Oct. 8, Cathy Sarinana reported Conrad missing to the local Sheriff’s Department. But a few days later, sheriff’s deputies noticed the family had moved, said Lewis County Sheriff’s Chief Joe Doench.

“We responded to an unrelated call near their home and they were gone,” Doench said.

The family moved to California between Oct. 9 and 12, he said.

Lewis County sheriff’s officials are helping in the investigation as Corona police try to confirm the identity of the second body using dental records.

The autopsy on Ricky’s body began Thursday. The second boy’s autopsy is scheduled for today.

Results may not be known for six to eight weeks, said Riverside County Supervising Deputy Coroner Curtis James.

The Sarinanas’ arraignment is scheduled Thursday.