The father of K-pop star Samuel was found dead in Mexico this week.
Jose Arredondo, who was from Bakersfield, California, was found slain in a home he owned in Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday, KERO reported.
It’s not clear what caused Arredondo’s death, but The Associated Press reported his body showed signs of blunt force trauma and prosecutors in Mexico said he was beaten.
“We are closely monitoring local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death,” a U.S. State Department official told the AP.
Arredondo’s pastor at New Life Church in Baja, California, James Ranger, told local outlets that Arredondo had been stabbed.
"He was tough as nails, but he had a beautiful heart," Ranger told Bakersfield.com
Arredondo, 58, owned a real estate company and car dealerships in Southern California. He was known throughout the community as someone who had worked his way up from poverty.
One of 11 children who grew up in Mexico, Arredondo crossed the border into California at age 11 and made a life for himself, KGET reported. He started out washing cars, but eventually got a job selling cars, which he excelled at.
Samuel, whose full name is Samuel Kim Arredondo, has been living in South Korea since 2017. He released his first full-length album, “Eye Candy,” in the same year. When he was younger, he often appeared in commercials for his dad’s dealerships.
He has not yet commented on his father’s death. The case is still under investigation.
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