Man charged with 1996 murder of Temple City woman

Brian Walton, 63, accused of killing Claudia Guevara, 23, whose body was found in Azusa drainage ditch

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A 63-year-old Los Angeles man has been charged with the 1996 murder of Claudia Guevara, a 23-year-old Temple City woman whose nude body was found in an Azusa drainage ditch nearly three decades ago. DNA evidence allegedly linked Brian Walton to the crime, in which Guevara was sexually assaulted and stabbed in the neck.

Why it matters

This case highlights the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing cold cases and the importance of advancements in forensic technology, which allowed investigators to make an arrest decades after the initial crime. It also underscores the trauma and anguish experienced by victims' families who wait years for justice.

The details

Guevara was reported missing by her older brother after she was last seen at a bus stop in El Monte. Her body was found the day after she went missing, after being dropped off at the bus stop by two co-workers. Prosecutors say Walton is charged with murder during the commission of a rape or attempted rape, and murder during the commission of a sodomy or attempted sodomy, along with an allegation that a knife was used in the crime.

  • Claudia Guevara went missing on February 20, 1996.
  • Her body was found in an Azusa drainage ditch the next day, on February 21, 1996.
  • Walton was arrested by LA County sheriff's homicide detectives last Thursday.
  • Walton's arraignment has been postponed to March 18.

The players

Brian Walton

A 63-year-old Los Angeles man charged with the 1996 murder of Claudia Guevara.

Claudia Guevara

A 23-year-old Temple City woman whose nude body was found in an Azusa drainage ditch in 1996.

Nathan Hochman

The Los Angeles County District Attorney who stated that investigators and prosecutors never stopped in their pursuit of justice in this cold case.

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What they’re saying

“The victim's family has waited for an agonizing 30 years to get that call to let them know their loved one's killer had been found and charged.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney (Press Telegram)

What’s next

The judge will decide on March 18 whether to allow Walton to be released on bail while awaiting trial.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of persistent investigations and advancements in forensic technology in solving cold cases, even decades after the initial crime. It also highlights the lasting trauma experienced by victims' families who wait years for justice.