Suspicious death leads to Watsonville man’s arrest on murder charges

Following a three-month investigation, a Watsonville man was arrested on suspicion he murdered his coworker.

The body of 27-year-old Curtis Stephen Stapleton was found on July 3 in the 15000 block of Concord Circle in Morgan Hill.

Morgan Hill police detectives and the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the Sunnyvale man’s death was suspicious and began an investigation.

According to the Morgan Hill Police Department, 30-year-old Martin Mason Garcia was the last person to be with Stapleton before his death and was involved in an altercation with him before police were notified of the body.

The MHPD said Garcia and Stapleton were co-workers at a nearby business.

“During the three-month investigation, Morgan Hill police detectives gathered enough evidence to arrest Martin Mason Garcia for the death of Curtis Stapleton,” said Sgt. Troy Hoefling.

A $6-million warrant was issued for Garcia’s arrest.

The Watsonville Police Department assisted with Garcia’s arrest Tuesday in Watsonville. He was later booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on murder charges.

Anyone with information related to this homicide is encouraged to call Detective Price at 408-779-2101.