A 27-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Kayli Arseth, who was found dead in her apartment on June 17 after failing to show up for work. Jose Luis Lopez Xique was formally charged with one count of second-degree murder. His bail has been set at $2.5 million, and he is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Richfield police responded to Arseth’s apartment for a welfare check after her employer and friends became concerned when she failed to report to work and stopped responding to messages. Upon arrival, officers found her car parked outside and received no response after knocking.
Using a key obtained from the building’s management, officers entered the apartment and discovered Arseth dead from a gunshot wound to the head. According to court documents, the key to Arseth’s apartment was missing from her key ring. Investigators learned that Arseth had left work around 4:30 p.m. on June 16 and returned home.
She was expected to meet a friend shortly afterward, but never came out or responded to texts. A neighbor told police they heard an argument coming from Arseth’s unit around the same time, including a woman’s voice yelling, “How could you do this to me?” followed by a man’s voice. About 10 minutes later, someone was heard leaving the apartment.
Investigators identified Lopez Xique as someone Arseth had recently met online. Friends told police that while the two had spent time together and Lopez Xique had bought her gifts, Arseth was clear that she was not interested in a romantic relationship. A GoFundMe page set up for the family of Kaylie Grace Arseth can be found here.
On the day of the murder, Arseth reportedly reiterated to Lopez Xique that she enjoyed spending time with him but wasn’t ready for anything romantic. She had asked him if he could help her with her motorcycle that day.
Phone data confirmed Lopez Xique was at Arseth’s apartment for over an hour on June 16. Later that evening, his phone pinged in West Bloomington, where police discovered two trash bags containing suspicious items: 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, gloves, wipes, shoes, and other materials, many of which were purchased earlier that day.
When arrested, Lopez Xique showed little reaction. Court documents note he “did not inquire about why he was arrested, told officers to hurry it up, and seemed unsurprised.” A search of his home uncovered a Glock 9mm handgun, camera gear, and electronic storage devices.
Police also observed scratches on his chest and puncture wounds on his arm. In custody, Lopez Xique declined to answer questions but hinted, “Maybe something will slip,” before requesting a lawyer. The investigation remains ongoing.