UPDATED: Temecula Man Charged With Murder of 20-Year-Old Woman; Allegedly Tortured Her Using Whip, Stick

This article was first published at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and updated at 6:18 p.m. Aug. 27.

A Temecula man has been charged with murder in the Aug. 16 death of 20-year-old Shirley Chanel Corrales, according to court records.

Edgar Silva, 26, was due to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at Southwest Justice Center near Murrieta, but that court appearance has been rescheduled for Sept. 3, according to John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Silva was arrested the morning of Aug. 17 as a “person of interest” in Corrales’ death after he was allegedly found hiding in the backyard of a home near the Temecula residence where her body was found the previous afternoon.

According to a document filed in court Tuesday by the prosecution, Silva allegedly tortured Corrales using items such as a whip and a stick.

Though Hall could not elaborate on the specifics of Corrales' death because it is still pending coroner's findings, he said, "When she was found she appeared to have been badly beaten."

Tuesday's arraignment was rescheduled at the request of Silva's public defense team, according to Hall, because the death penalty may be sought.

"Because this is a potential capital case, they need to appoint a capital defense attorney," Hall wrote in an emailed response to Patch.

Silva was wanted on a felony warrant for violating his state parole, which has allowed authorities to keep him behind bars since his arrest.

As of Tuesday, he has been charged with murder, along with possible sentence-enhancing allegations of committing a serious felony with a deadly weapon and torture, according to court records.

Temecula police had responded the afternoon of Aug. 16 to the 44000 block of Calle Hilario in the Vail Ranch area of Temecula to investigate a call about “an unresponsive woman.”

The reporting party had attempted CPR, and responding paramedics were also unable to revive her, police said at the time. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators quickly determined Silva lived at the residence.

A source who wished to remain anonymous told Patch that Silva and Corrales were involved in a relationship.

According to court records, Silva was convicted of spousal abuse in November 2008. In the present case, he is also being charged with committing a felony within five years of that prior offense.

A decision about whether to seek the death penalty against Silva will be made at a later time by District Attorney Paul Zellerbach, according to Hall.

"As charged with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the infliction of torture, he would qualify for the death penalty," Hall wrote.

Silva is being held on no bail at Southwest Detention Center near Murrieta.

Editor’s Note: The outcome of these allegations, as well as the facts, may change as the case progresses through the legal system. Not all details of each investigation are made public. All items are alleged to have occurred. There should be no assumption of guilt.