Police were investigating a charred body found in a dumpster that had first been shot in the head and then set on fire when a missing person report was filed for a Mary-Lynn Breeden. Police investigated Mary-Lynne's disappearance and found a woman had attempted to withdraw money from Mary-Lynne's account. The woman was identified on the bank camera and was questioned by police. The woman then led police to Christian Cruz. Police found traces of blood in Cruz' car and were able to match it to the charred body through DNA testing of the body's tooth pulp and Breeden's family members.