In a gruesome incident in Oakland, a homicide suspect was apprehended three weeks after a body was discovered burning along an East Bay interstate. The suspect, 22-year-old Raul Ramirez-Perez of Oakland, has been arrested for the murder of 47-year-old Nathan Kolasa. The announcement was made by the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division on Tuesday.
On August 1, around 1:25 a.m., firefighters responding to a brush fire call at the 17th Street offramp of Interstate-980 in Oakland stumbled upon a horrifying sight. Following the extinguishing of the blaze, they discovered Kolasa’s body, which had sustained severe burn injuries.
Upon taking over the investigation, CHP detectives established that Kolasa had died before the fire was set. They noted that Kolasa had sustained significant traumatic injuries, which were the cause of his death prior to the fire. Reports indicate he was beaten to death with a metal pole.
Ramirez-Perez was pinpointed as a prime suspect in the case and subsequently arrested. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail on charges of arson and murder.
With this incident, the city of Oakland’s homicide count this year stands at 69, according to the most recent crime data from the Oakland Police Department. This case underscores the vital role of interdepartmental cooperation in solving criminal cases and bringing perpetrators to justice.