Police found a man stabbed to death in a Goleta apartment early Sunday morning after residents reported finding a trail of blood leading into their home.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman Sgt. Chris Pappas said deputies responded to reports of a possible homicide at an apartment complex at 15 Camino de Vida, just off of the Turnpike Road exit in Goleta at 4 a.m. Sunday morning. The family living at the apartment in question had called 9-1-1 after seeing a blood trail outside the residence, Pappas said.

When officers arrived at the scene, Pappas said they found a Hispanic male, later identified as 30-year-old Goleta resident Elias Raymond Silva, dead on the floor of the apartment. Police said Silva suffered numerous stab wounds inflicted by an undetermined object.

Pappas said law enforcement is currently conducting an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a homicide. He said he encourages anyone who may be able to provide information about the murder to contact the Sheriff’s Dept. at 681-4100 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at (877) 800-9100.

Sunday’s homicide is the second in Goleta this year and the first since UCSB graduate student Jarrod Blake Davidson was shot and killed July 9. No suspects have been arrested in Davidson’s case, which is also still under investigation.

Print