Police Identify Body Recovered From Santa Barbara Apartment; Two Charged in Connection

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Local police shared an update about their investigation into a suspicious death after a body was recovered from an apartment on Los Aguajes Avenue last week.

According to the Santa Barbara Police Department, the deceased has been identified as 39-year-old Lawrence Brennen of Santa Barbara and his death is still considered suspicious in nature.

Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the suspicious death, 45-year-old Jenica Monique Ochoa and 43-year-old Kenneth Eugene Tompkins stated a felony complaint filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office shared that on Oct. 30, 2026, both Ochoa and Tompkins were charged with felony concealing a death as well as a misdemeanor charge of concealing a death.

In order for a charge of concealing a death to meet the conditions of a felony charge, overt acts must be taken by the accused and in this case, the District Attorney's Office specifically noted in their complaint filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court that both defendants concealed the body by wrapping it in a bedroll, putting the wrapped body into a metal container and wrapping that metal container in saran wrap.

Both Ochoa and Tompkins are also facing the special allegation that each of them has a prior strike offense under state law showed the complaint.

In 2008, Ochoa was convicted of a burglary charge in Santa Barbara County and Tompkins was convicted of a burglary charge in Tulare County in 2014, noted the complaint.

Both defendants are due back in court for a preliminary setting hearing on Nov. 30 of this year.

A woman with the same name as Ochoa was arrested alongside 19 other people in 2016 after a five-month investigation involving local and federal law enforcement agencies.

More information about the active investigation is being withheld at this time shared the Santa Barbara Police Department to Your News Channel, but anyone with more information is asked to contact Detective Baca at 805-897-2335.