OCEANSIDE, CA — (UPDATE) On April 7, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Oceanside Police responded to the 2300 block of Falling Leaf Road following a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive adult female. Based on the evidence at the scene, investigators believe she was the victim of a homicide.

On April 8, 2026, detectives from the Crimes of Violence Unit were notified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office they had positively identified the victim as 46-year-old Oceanside resident Bethany Whitwer. 

Based on their investigation, detectives established probable cause to arrest 69-year-old Oceanside resident Michael Topping, who had been taken into custody at the conclusion of Tuesday’s standoff.  Topping is now in the custody of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.  Detectives are working with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution of the case. 

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact Oceanside Police Detective Ryan Malone at (760) 435-4537 or the Anonymous Tip Line at (760) 435-4730.