Lawrence Matthew Brennen, 39, was found inside a West Beach apartment after police investigating a welfare check obtained a search warrant.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A 39-year-old father was found dead inside a concealed container at a Santa Barbara apartment after officers responded to a welfare check, authorities said, and two people have pleaded not guilty to charges tied to allegedly hiding his death.
Lawrence Matthew Brennen was identified as the man whose body was discovered in an apartment in the city’s West Beach neighborhood. Police received a request for a welfare check at a residence in the 100 block of Los Aguajes Avenue shortly after 9:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Officers who responded said they encountered suspicious circumstances that led to a broader investigation and an application for a search warrant.
Investigators returned to the residence at about 6:45 a.m. Oct. 28 and found Brennen dead inside, according to police and court records cited by local news organizations. Authorities have described the circumstances surrounding his death as suspicious, but they have not publicly announced a cause or manner of death. Toxicology testing remained pending, and investigators said additional details about how Brennen died had not yet been released.
Jenica Monique Ochoa, 45, and Kenneth Eugene Tompkins, 43, were arrested in connection with the case and later charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and concealing a death. Both have entered not guilty pleas. Court records allege Brennen’s body was concealed between Oct. 23 and Oct. 27 before officers discovered it during the investigation.
According to allegations described in a criminal complaint, Brennen’s body had been wrapped in a bedroll and placed inside a metal container, which was then covered with plastic wrap. Those claims remain allegations, and neither Ochoa nor Tompkins has been convicted in connection with the case. Authorities have not publicly accused either defendant of killing Brennen.
Both defendants have been released from custody while the criminal case proceeds. They are scheduled to return to Santa Barbara Superior Court on Nov. 30, when further proceedings are expected. Prosecutors have also cited prior felony convictions in court filings, but the current charges concern the alleged concealment of Brennen’s death rather than a homicide accusation.
Brennen’s family has remembered him as a devoted father, brother and friend. His daughter described him in a family fundraiser as a free spirit who loved the ocean, fishing and spending time with his children. Relatives said he was known for telling stories, making people laugh and treating those he met like family.
Brennen’s sister, Justine Castillo, told KSBY that the news of her brother’s death left her in shock. She said family members want him remembered for his kind nature and the relationships he built with others. The family has also sought help with funeral expenses while waiting for answers about what happened to him.
The Santa Barbara Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Brennen’s death. His exact cause and manner of death have not been publicly determined, and the two defendants are due back in court Nov. 30 as the concealment case moves forward.