Crime Scene

Charges not yet filed in fatal Whittier shooting

2012-02-09T23:18:43Z

SANTA FE SPRINGS -- Three parolees arrested on suspicion of carrying out a car-to-car shooting that left one man dead and another seriously wounded last week have not been charged in connection with the slaying, officials said Thursday.

Jason Uzel, 37, of Whittier, Brian Recinos, 22, of Whittier and Frank Ramos, 45, of Eureka were arrested on suspicion of murder in the hours following the Jan. 2 shooting on Sorensen Avenue, just south of Washington Boulevard, Whittier police officials said.

While all three men remained behind bars on suspicion of violating their parole, police had not yet presented the murder case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Whittier police Officer Bradley White said.

"There's no criminal filing at this time," he said. The investigation is still ongoing."

The shooting claimed the life of 18-year-old Mark Joseph Rodriguez of Whittier, and left a second man who was riding in a car with Rodriguez seriously wounded, according to police and coroner's officials.

The shooting is being investigated by the Whittier Police Department, which provides police services to Santa Fe Springs.

Men with "Baby on Board" sticker on car rob, attack man in Pico Rivera

2012-02-09T22:17:42Z

PICO RIVERA -- Three men robbed another man at gunpoint and slashed his had with a knife Thursday before fleeing the scene in a car with a "Baby on Board" sticker on the back, authorities said.

The crime took place just after 1:20 p.m. at Coolhurst Drive and Pico Vista Road, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Ernest Bille said.

A man in his 20s was walking when he was approached by three robbers in a white, 4-door, 90s-model Honda Accord with a "Baby on Board" sticker adorning the rear, the sergeant said.

At least two of the robbers exited the car and demanded cash from the victim, who turned over about $15, the sergeant said. A struggle took place during the robbery, during which the victim suffered a minor slash to his hand.

In addition to a knife, the robbers also brandished a handgun during the crime, Bille said.

The robbers were initially described only as a white man, a Latino man and a black man, he added.

The suspects' car was last seen heading south on Pico Vista Road toward Washington Boulevard.

South Whittier man sentenced for wife's slaying

2012-02-09T21:19:54Z

WHITTIER -- A South Whittier man has begun serving a 12-year prison sentence for stabbing wife to death at their home in an unincorporated county area near Whittier.

Andres Zazueta, 47, was sentenced to prison Feb. 3 after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 45-year-old Maria Guzman on March 13, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.

Originally charged with murder, Zazueta attacked his wife with a kitchen knife at their home in the 10700 block of Carmenita Road, then wounded himself as well before deputies arrived at the scene, officials said.

Guzman died at the scene, while Zazueta was hospitalized for his injuries before being arrested.

Other than domestic violence, a motive in the killing has not been released.

Man stabbed at El Monte McDonald's restaurant

2012-02-09T19:37:52Z

EL MONTE -- Police are seeking a man accused of stabbing another man during a fight at a fast-food restaurant Wednesday.

A man, his wife and a friend of his wife met about 7 a.m. at a McDonald's restaurant at Valley Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue, El Monte police Lt. Dan Burlingham said.

The husband, a man in his mid- to late-20s, was confronted by his wife's friend and a fight ensued, the lieutenant said.

The suspect pulled a knife and stabbed the husband three to four times in the neck and upper torso, Burlingham said. Police were looking into the possibility two men who were with the suspect also jumped into the fray.

The wounded man was hospitalized in stable condition.

The knife-wielding man and his friends fled the scene before officers arrived and remained at-large Thursday, police said.

The attacker was initially described only as a Latino man in his late-20s.

Anyone with information is asked to call El Monte police at 626-580-2110.

East Valinda home scorched in blaze

2012-02-09T18:48:11Z

EAST VALINDA -- A fire badly damaged a home early Thursday, though the residents escaped injury, officials said.

Firefighters responded to a report of a blaze about 6:20 a.m. at the rear house on a property in the 200 block of North Hambledon Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Quvondo Johnson said.

The home was well-involved with fire when firefighters arrived, however the home's residents had gotten out safely, according to fire and sheriff's officials said.

Firefighters battled the blaze for more than 20 minutes before it was extinguished, Johnson said.

The damage to the home was extensive, however a dollar-value estimate was not immediately available, officials said. The cause of the remained under investigation.

The Red Cross was summoned to the scene to help find temporary lodging for eight adults and two children displaced from the home, Johnson said.

UPDATE: Coroner: cause of death undetermined for allegedly slain Tournament of Roses volunteer

2012-02-09T18:24:47Z

No official cause of death is known for a San Gabriel woman and Tournament of Roses volunteer whose body was found in the trunk of her car in 2004, resulting in the arrest of an Alhambra man on suspicion of murder earlier this week, coroner's officials said.

Richard Allan Munnecke, 71, was jailed Wednesday on suspicion of killing 59-year-old Donna Kelly, whose body was found by her daughter in April of 2004, sheriff's officials said. She went missing about three weeks earlier.

Coroner's medical examiners were unable to determined how Kelly died, largely because of the condition her body was discovered in, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.

"(Cause of death) is undetermined after autopsy and toxicology. They don't know why she died," Winter said.

Investigators noted in their report that the cause of death was, "possibly masked by decomposition," he added.

Detective Richard Lopez of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said after meeting with coroner's medical examiners, investigators are convinced that Kelly died as the result of suffocation. He declined to give further details.

DNA linked Munnecke to the killing, leading to his arrest, Lopez said.

As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives obtained a court order to collect a sample of DNA from Munnecke in August of 2010, Lopez said.

While Munnecke had not previously been named as a suspect in Kelly's killing, "We knew of his connection to the victim," the detective said.

When results from the DNA analysis came back in September of last year, "it narrowed the investigation," Lopez said.

Authorities allege the killing took place while Munnecke, who is married, was having an affair with Kelly. Munnecke has denied an affair took place.

Munnecke's arrest shocked many who knew him as a friendly and active community member.

According to county booking records, he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending arraignment Friday in Alhambra Superior Court.

Romanian man indicted in JPL computer hacking case

2012-02-08T22:31:05Z

LOS ANGELES -- A Romanian man already convicted in his home country of hacking into NASA computers at the the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge has been indicted in the United States, officials announced Wednesday.

Robert Butkya, 25, of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on allegations of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer, U.S. Department of Justice officials said in a written statement. The alleged hacking took place in December.

Butkya used the moniker "Iceman" as he hacked into, and placed malicious software on, 25 computers that were part of NASA's "Atmospheric Infrared Sounder Program -- designed to support climate research and improve weather forecasting capabilities -- in December, according to the DOJ.

In at least one instance, "He used the computers to launch attacks against other computers," Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Silber, who is prosecuting the American case, said.

It was not believed Butkya was trying to steal information from the system, Silber added.

In many cases, he said, the principal motivation of hackers is pride -- to show off their prowess at accessing restricted systems.

"As a result of Butkya's alleged conduct, researchers were unable to use the computers for more than two months while NASA removed the malicious code in the machines, restored data and took steps to prevent further access by hackers," according to the statement. "NASA sustained more than $500,000 in damages, which includes the costs of completing the work on the computers and the time lost to scientific researchers."

A Romanian court has already tried and convicted Butkya, sentencing him to three years in prison and seven years of probation, officials said.

Once he's released from Romanian prison, he will have to be brought before a judge in the U.S. for the case to process, Silber explained.

Since Romania will not extradite in such a case, he said, prosecution in the United States will depend on with Butkya coming to America voluntarily, or being arrested in another country that will extradite him.

"As a practical matter, he has to come to the United States (to face trial)," Silber said.

If convicted in the U.S., Butkya faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Three arrested at hotel in Covina

2012-02-08T21:48:36Z

COVINA -- The arrest of a man on suspicion of drug possession at a motel Tuesday led police to arrest two other people on suspicion of stealing copper wiring, authorities said.

Richard Hughes, 43, was jailed on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, while Laura Wohlhueter, 47, and Keith Kessler, 41, were booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property, Covina police Lt. John Curley said. All three are West Covina residents.

Officers were on patrol near the Radisson Suites, 1211 E. Garvey Street, when they spotted Hughes in the parking lot rifling through a car, the lieutenant said.

Police questioned the man and quickly discovered he had a small amount of what appeared to be methamphetamine with him, police said. He told officers that the car he was seen in belonged to a friend who was renting a room.

After arresting Hughes, police went to the hotel room he indicated to verify his story, Curley said. Once in the room, officers noticed a box full of copper wiring which they believed to be stolen and arrested Wohlhueter and Kessler.

According to county booking records, all three suspects were being held in lieu of $20,000 bail and were due due for arraignment Thursday in West Covina Superior Court.

Police shootings: Officers' names must be made public, court rules

2012-02-08T21:35:09Z

From Los Angeles Police Protective League Blog:

The names of officers involved in shootings are public information subject to disclosure by law, a California appellate court ruled Tuesday, marking the latest legal opinion in a public records court battle that has embroiled law enforcement and the media.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected arguments from the city of Long Beach and its police union that officers' names were protected as investigative and personnel records and because of officers' privacy rights.

The decision upheld a Superior Court judge'sorder that the city would have to release the names in response to a public records request from The Times.

FULL STORY...

Missing Covina woman sought

2012-02-08T20:22:53Z

COVINA -- Covina police are asking for the public's help in finding a 64-year-old woman with Alzheimer's who has been missing since Monday.

Leiza Margarita Ochy left her home in the 500 Block of S. Eremland Drive Monday afternoon after an argument with her daughter over the possibility of being placed into an adult care facility, Covina police said.

Officials said the Covina woman also has bipolar disorder, a history of schizophrenia and other medical conditions. She didn't have medications or money with her when she left.

Ochy is Panamanian, speaks English with a Spanish accent, stand 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 200 pound. She was last seen wearing a lime green sweater, white pants and brown bowling-style shoes. She was carrying a blue-and-grey backpack and had a white purse with pink stripes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Covina Police at 626-384-5656 or Detective Anthony Zavala at 626-384-5622.

- Staff report

PHOTO of Leiza Ochy courtesy of the Covina Police Department

Donut shop robbed in Temple City

2012-02-08T19:38:24Z

TEMPLE CITY -- A masked gunman robbed a donut shop along Rosemead Boulevard early Wednesday, authorities said.

The robber wore a ski mask as he entered Rose Donut, at Rosemead Boulevard and Longden Avenue, about 8 a.m., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Edward Godfrey said.

Using a handgun, he robbed the business and was last seen fleeing the area on foot, the lieutenant said.

Officials described the robber as a Latino or white man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 180 pounds, wearing a black ski mask, a black hooded sweat shirt and dark-colored jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Temple Station at 626-448-9861.

Sentencing delayed for man convicted of two Whittier murders

2012-02-08T19:21:40Z

NORWALK -- Sentencing was delayed Wednesday for a La Habra man facing the death penalty for two gang-related murders in Whittier, including one in which he fatally stabbed the wrong man, authorities said.

A jury recommended the death sentence in January for Gabriel Alexander Ronquillo, 39, for the 2004 mistaken-identity murder of 47-year-old Gary Frausto, as well as the 1999 slaying of rival gang member David Borunda, 23. He was convicted of the killings in December in Norwalk Superior Court.

His sentencing was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed to March 15, court officials said.

Ronquillo was arrested following the most recent killing, after his would-be getaway car failed to start, investigators said.

In Frausto's killing, authorities said, Ronquillo was following an order from the Mexican Mafia to kill another man, Frausto's brother, but stabbed Frausto to death by mistake when he answered a midnight knock at the door.

In addition to the two murders, a jury also found true special allegation of multiple murder, murder for the benefit of a street gang, murder by an active gang member, use of a deadly and dangerous weapon and principal discharge of a firearm causing death, officials said.

Man wounded in shooting near Whittier

2012-02-08T17:54:01Z

WHITTIER - Deputies are looking for a gunman who shot another man several times Tuesday night.

Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Mendoza said the injured man was in stable condition at a hospital.

The station received calls about multiple shots being heard about 8:50 p.m. at Laurel and Virginia avenues in an unincorporated county area near Whittier, he said. Deputies checking out the calls found the wounded man.

The gunman said nothing before opening fire, striking the victim, a 30-year-old man, several time in the stomach area, Sgt. James Franks said.

The shooting happened in an unincorporated county area near Whittier.

A relative was driving the man to the hospital but decided to let paramedics transport him, according to Mendoza. He said the relative pulled over in nearby Santa Fe Springs.

Witnesses saw a man fleeing from the scene after the shooting. Mendoza said the suspect was last seen running west through Amelia Mayberry County Park.

The suspect was described a Latino, 25, 5 feet 6 inches tall, between 150 to 160 pounds and wearing a black shirt and black pants.

- staff report

Utah excavation related to search for missing San Gabriel man

2012-02-08T17:18:47Z

ROY, Utah -- Police who have been digging on a Utah property for three days say the excavation is related to the search for a San Gabriel man who went missing under "suspicious circumstances" after heading to Utah to seek work last year.

Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman said detectives are looking into the case of Victor Flores of San Gabriel, Calif., though he declined to say what was found inside the hole at a duplex in Roy, Utah, Tuesday.

"We're still in the middle of processing that scene," the lieutenant said. "We're not releasing what, if anything, we've found yet."

The reason for the search, he added: "We're looking for any items of evidence."

Lyman said police would make a statement regarding their findings once the search was complete, which he expected would be Wednesday or Thursday.

One officer looking into the hole was reportedly seen holding his nose, and police have used a tarp to shield the view of onlookers from their work.

Flores, then-25, departed from his home in San Gabriel in early May to seek work in Utah, San Gabriel police Lt. Darren Perrine said.

Within days of his arrival in Utah, he went missing, officials said.

Flores' mother, who kept in frequent contact with him, grew worried when she lost touch with her son and reported him missing to Utah investigators, Perrine said.

While Layton investigators labelled the disappearance as occurring under, "suspicious circumstances," Lyman said, "We can't comment on what specifically those circumstances are. "It's still part of a real active investigation."

While the investigation is being by the Layton Police Department, Perrine said, San Gabriel police have assisted detectives in Utah through such measures as collecting a DNA samples from relatives for comparison.

It was unclear what his relationship is to the duplex where police are searching.

Lyman would say only that a "culmination" of evidence and interviews led police to believe, "there may be items of evidence at this address."

Police used ground-penetrating radar last week at the site, where excavation began Monday, officials said.

Shortly after Flores was reported missing, Utah police spoke with residents of a home in Layton who told them they knew Flores, and that he was fine, Lyman said.

When police returned to re-interview the residents several weeks later, they had moved, he said.

A family friend told the Standard-Examiner of Ogden that Flores had gone to Utah with an acquaintance with the promise of a construction job, but had later called family members to say he had changed his mind. She added she was suspicious of the acquaintance.

Neighbors of the home in Roy where the excavation was taking place told the Ogden newspaper that police in tactical gear raided the house in the fall and made an arrest.

PHOTO of Victor Flores: courtesy

Whittier woman rescued after taking fall in Eaton Canyon

2012-02-05T23:41:15Z

ALTADENA -- Rescuers hoisted a Whittier woman from Eaton Canyon by helicopter after she took a fall while hiking and broke her ankle, authorities said.

The 38-year-old woman was hiking with her husband 100 yards below the first waterfall of Eaton Canyon about 11:30 a.m. when she lost her footing and fell, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.

Altadena Search and Rescue Team members, along with a sheriff's helicopter, reached the couple and hoisted the injured woman into a helicopter via a rescue basket about 1:30 p.m., Lt. Marjory Jacobs of the sheriff's Crescenta Valley Station said.

Her husband was not injured, she added.

A search and rescue team members also took a spill during the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment of a minor injury to his knee, Jacobs said.

The algae-lined trails near the Eaton Canyon Falls are well-known to rescuers, who help pull dozens of injured hikers to safety every year.