ORCUTT, Calif. - Santa Maria Police say they are investigating a homicide after a body was found inside a U-Haul truck in Orcutt.

The investigation started after officers responded to a home in the 1100 block of West Donovan in Santa Maria on Monday for reports of a possible assault.

A victim was not located inside the residence, but there was evidence that an assault had occurred, police said.

Late Tuesday morning, a vehicle believed to be involved in the investigation was located on Los Padres Street in Orcutt by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office personnel.

Santa Maria Police say they responded to that location and found a victim of a homicide in the back of a moving truck.

Three suspects from Santa Maria have been arrested and booked into jail on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Police identified them as 37-year-old Ramon Maldonado, 28-year-old Carmen Cardenas, and 54-year-old Pedro Torres.

GOLETA, Calif. -  A woman who was sexually assaulted while she slept, fights back to protect herself and gets free. Now the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department needs help searching for the suspect.

The Sheriff's Department says: "At just after six this morning, at the Holiday Inn located at 5650 Calle Real in Goleta, a 58-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her hotel room while sleeping in her bed.  The victim, who lives out of the area, woke up to find a man climbing on top of her.  The suspect covered the victim's mouth and started grabbing her.  The victim fought back and yelled.  During the struggle, the victim was hit in the face and received minor injuries.  The attacker ran out of the hotel room and the victim called for help.

When Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene they searched the area but were not able to locate the suspect.