The woman has been identified as 21-year-old Eileen Pelt of Auburn. Lodi Police officials allege that David Paradiso, 26 years old of Stockton murdered Pelt by stabbing her in the backseat of his mother’s car while his mother was driving. He then kidnapped his mother forcing her to drive to the Pioneer area where he left the body off of Defender Grade. Lodi Police said Eileen Pelt was stabbed at least once in the neck. Paradiso was arrested after a high speed chase.
Investigators said Paradiso and Pelt had only known each other for about a week. According to the California Department of Corrections, Paradiso's criminal record began when he was a minor. Those crimes are confidential.
In 2001, at the age of 21, he was arrested on a DUI charge. That arrest kicked off an adult record that now includes counts of vandalism, felony battery, and drug and alcohol related charges. His record includes kicking out the window of a police patrol car, and his last charge prior to the slaying was for felony battery on a correctional officer. He was sentenced to two years in prison for that crime.