Seal Beach Broker’s Death Tied to Rival

A successful real estate broker from Seal Beach who was found shot dead in the trunk of her car was killed in the office of a rival broker, authorities said this morning.

Long Beach Police Detective Ron Pavek said that police had found evidence that Arlene Lee Chee, 46, was killed in the Realty One office on West Willow Street in Long Beach, owned by Vicente Lapid OCampo, 45, a former employee of Chee who is a suspect in her murder.

“We found evidence that led us to that conclusion,” Pavek said. He declined to be specific.

Long Beach police were seeking a warrant for OCampo’s arrest this morning.

Chee’s body was found Thursday night in the trunk of her 1985 Mercedes-Benz just a few blocks from OCampo’s office. Family members said Chee did not return home Wednesday night. They began searching for her Thursday and found her car on 25th Street near Fashion Avenue in Long Beach. They summoned police, who opened the trunk and discovered the body.

Family members told police that Chee had a noon appointment with OCampo on Wednesday. OCampo was last seen Wednesday afternoon.

Police said OCampo may have left the Los Angeles area and said it was possible that he had fled to the Philippines, where he was born.

A memorial service for Chee has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress.