Suspect arrested in killing of man found at Irvine construction site

Police said Friday that they have arrested a suspect in the killing of a man whose body was found at an Irvine construction site last year.

Jacob Michael Margo, 21, of Santa Ana was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of murder, Irvine Police Department spokeswoman Farrah Emami said. Margo was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Detectives began investigating the homicide on the morning of June 5 after a group of workers arrived at the construction site near Wolf Trail and Orchard Hills and discovered a body later identified as Octavio Jesus Alcala, 19, of Santa Ana.

“The victim was located face-down in a remote, graded construction area that did not have any buildings,” according to the Police Department’s announcement.

Police said they served multiple search warrants in an “extensive investigation” before arresting Margo, but officials declined to release more details because the investigation is continuing. Authorities have not said how Alcala died.

It’s unclear whether Margo and Alcala knew each other.

In 2012, Margo pleaded guilty to felony possession of stolen property and was sentenced to three years’ probation and 270 days in jail, court records show.