Boshay Ware is facing murder and torture charges following the discovery of Georgiana McGheeb in a canal on May 10, according to Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto.
"Georgiana was severely beaten before being placed in the canal by Boshay Ware, and also, Saldivar, Jerome Saldivar, was severely beaten," Casto said.
Police say 55-year-old Jerome Saldivar was assaulted during the same incident but remains missing.
On Tuesday morning, Fresno police received a report from the Irrigation District of a potential body in the canal, Lt. Brian Valles said. Officers responded and confirmed it was a body, though the identity has not been released.
"This individual has been in the water for some time and has discoloration and things of that nature, so the ID is unknown," Valles said.
Authorities say it is too early to determine whether the body is Saldivar's or someone else's.
Investigators said the violence was not random.
"These people all knew each other. It wasn't random. It wasn't a street encounter. These individuals were all associates," Casto said.
Family members of McGheeb attended Wednesday's hearing, including her cousin, Jackie Smith, who addressed Ware's appearance in court.
"What you did, you wasn't worried about that then, but you are worried about the world seeing you now..." Smith said.
Smith said she plans to attend every court hearing moving forward.
"I hope he never sees the streets again. Because the way my cousin looked in a video that is circulating on social media, no, he does not need to come home," she said.
Police said Ware does not have a history of violent crime but does have prior convictions involving minor offenses.
Ware is scheduled to return to court on June 11.
Authorities have not released any additional information about Saldivar and continue to search the canal.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fresno Police Department.
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