A 21-year-old Oakley man has been arrested in connection with the beating death of his girlfriend on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 17. Authorities say Francisco Ayala-Lares called the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s dispatch around 4:30 p.m. and admitted to involvement in an altercation at a residence on the 100 block of Pheasant Way in Oakley.

Elizabeth Reyes, 21,was found dead at the scene. Deputy Sheriffs picked up Ayala-Lares on the 400 block of West Fourth Street in Antioch and transported him to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he was booked on homicide charges.

“Obviously it’s very sad,” said Oakley Police Chief Chris Thorsen. “There were obvious of signs of blunt-force trauma and it appears at this point that it was a domestic dispute. There was an altercation; he (Ayala-Lares) left the house and then called the dispatchers. A short time later he turned himself into the police.”

The homicide is Oakley’s first since 2006.

The couple’s two children, ages 2 and 11 months, are being cared for by Child and Family Services personnel.

Those with information regarding this case should call the Office of the Sheriff at 925-646-2441.