Category Archives: 187

Detectives continue seeking clues in retired school teacher’s slaying in Temple City

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Detectives continue seeking the public’s help in the mysterious slaying of a retired school teacher found dead inside her Temple City home on Easter Sunday.
Carmen Garcia, 65, was discovered Sunday morning by her daughter, who had become worried about her after being unable to reach her for several days, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
Though initially believed to have been shot to death, an autopsy performed on the body of Carmen Garcia, 65, determined that was not the case, Sgt. Ken Clark of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
“She was actually not shot,” he said. But due to the ongoing investigation, he declined to say how she did die, adding that that fact may be known only to the killer. “I can’t tell you the manner of death, but she was not shot.”
Coroner’s officials declined to discuss the case due to a security hold placed on it by sheriff’s homicide detectives, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
There was no obvious motive for someone to kill the “very well-liked” woman, Clark said.
“I’ve been working homicides for more than 15 years. This case troubles me. It really does,” he said.
Detectives Thursday continued pouring over evidence collected from the crime scene and searching for those who could provide a useful piece of information, Clark said.
“We are definitely going to need the public’s help,” the sergeant said. “We’re looking for anyone in the community that saw something unusual, however so slight.”
Though Garcia’s body was discovered shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, Clark said it has likely been there for at least one day. Coroner’s investigators were working to determine a more specific time of death.
There were no signs of forced entry to the home in the normally quiet neighborhood, Clark said.
“It’s unknown if items were missing,” he said. “We believe they were.”
“It appears to me that the person responsible may have spend some time in the house,” Clark added.
Garcia, a longtime Temple City resident, retired at the end of the 2011 school year from Independence and Century high schools in Alhambra, where she worked with at-risk students. The campuses were devastated by news of her killing, school officials said.
She was looking forward to spending her retirement with her husband of more than four decades, Arturo, friends said. But he died late last year.
“She was known in the neighborhood,” Clark said. “She’d take daily walks. She was upbeat.”
Anyone with information was asked to contact Sgt. Clark or Detective John Fredendall of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

65-year-old woman fatally shot in Temple City

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TEMPLE CITY — A 65-year-old woman was found shot to death Sunday in a residential neighborhood, authorities said.
The woman was found shot and pronounced dead shortly before 9 a.m. in the 10300 block of Key West Street, Sgt. Rich Pena of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau said in a written statement.
No suspect was in custody in connection with the death investigation, Deputy Mark Pope added.
Sheriff’s officials declined to release any further information.
Her name was not available late Sunday, coroner’s officials said..

Former Glendora man freed from prison after 1985 murder conviction was overturned files claim

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A former Glendora man was released from prison after 27 years when his 1985 murder conviction was overturned last year has filed a claim against the county, as well as a detective and the estate of another detective who investigated the case.
Frank O’Connell, 55, was convicted of slaying of 27-year-old Jay French in South Pasadena on Jan. 5, 1984. He has maintained that he was innocent of the crime.
But after more than 27 years in prison, and assistance from the nonprofit organization Centurion Ministry, which is dedicated to freeing wrongly convicted prisoners, O’Connell’s conviction was thrown out March 29 of last year by Pasadena Superior Court Judge Suzette Clover, who cited major problems she found with O’Connell’s trial.
“Police officer investigating his case withheld critical information,” said O’Connell’s attorney, Barrett Litt. “(They) gave misleading information in reports which led to a conviction.”
By law, police and prosecutors must turn over all evidence, including exculpatory evidence, to the defense, Litt explained. “That’s a very well-established rule.”
“It came out that they withheld notes that they had written contemporaneously with interviews,” Litt said.
In overturning O’Connell’s conviction, Clover also pointed out that a key witness in the original 1985 murder trial have since recanted his testimony and claimed a detective pressured him to identify O’Connell as the killer.
Prosecutors did not seek to re-try the case, saying they were unable to gather sufficient evidence.
Litt said a claim against Los Angeles County was filed Monday, Litt said. Also named as defendants in the case are one of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives who handled the investigation, along with the estate of his partner, who is now deceased.
The claim seeks unspecified damages, the attorney said. In past cases, juries have awarded $1 million for each year a person was wrongfully imprisoned.
Since his release from prison last year, O’Connell has moved to Colorado where he works at a cabinet shop, Litt said.

Man accused of fatally shooting wife as she arrived to work in Montebello turns self in

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MONTEBELLO — A man accused of ambushing and fatally shooting his 24-year-old wife early Saturday when she showed up for work at a Washington Boulevard restaurant turned himself in to police in Whittier Sunday, authorities said.
Arthur Andrade Jr., 29, of Tustin, arrived at the Whittier Police Department shortly after 2 a.m. and turned himself in, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Pena and county booking records. He was booked on suspicion of murder in the slaying of Sonia Esperanza of East Los Angeles
The couple was in the process of getting a divorce, and Esperanza had obtained a restraining order against her husband, Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The shooting took place about 8:15 a.m. in the parking lot of Chago Ahogados, on Washington Boulevard at 4th Street, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
It was not clear if Andrade followed Esperanza to work, or perhaps waited nearby until she arrived, but he confronted her while she was still sitting in her Ford Focus in restaurant’s parking lot, Corina said.
“An argument ensues,” he said. “He pulls out a gun and shoots her.”
Esperanza was struck several times in the head and upper body, Corina said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Andrade fled the area in a dark-colored car, possibly a Ford Mustang, according to Montebello police and sheriff’s officials. The car was last seen heading east on Washington Boulevard.
Though still married, Esperanza was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, Corina said.
She had obtained a restraining order against him, alleging that he had been “assaultive” toward her, the lieutenant said.
Investigators Saturday announced they were seeking Andrade as a suspect in the killing and released his photograph to the media.
The gun used in the killing had not been located Sunday, officials said.
Andrade was scheduled to appear in East Los Angeles Superior Court for arraignment Tuesday.
Anyone with information can reach the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO of Arthur Andrade Jr. Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Convicted murderer, Pasadena resident arrested in Monrovia after 32 years as wanted parolee

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A convicted murderer who absconded from his parole in 1980 was arrested this week in Monrovia, authorities said.
Prior to his arrest Sunday by parole agents outside a Monrovia Home Depot store, Richard Bradford, 60, was living in Pasadena and ran a drug rehabilitation facility in town called the Eaton Canyon Treatment Center, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said in a written statement on the agency’s blog, CDCR Today. But he was living under the assumed name James Edward Heard.
Bradford received a life sentence in prison at age 18 in 1971 for a fatal shooting and robbery, according to the CDCR. The slaying took place in Santa Clara County, CDCR spokesman Luis Patino said. He declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Bradford was paroled from prison in December of 1978, but fled from his parole supervision less than two years later in September of 1980, officials said.
He was wanted ever since, according to the CDCR, and in March of 2010, the California Parole Apprehension Team renewed an investigation into Bradford’s whereabouts.
Bradford’s attorney contacted officials in 2011 to negotiate his client’s surrender, but Bradford never turned himself in.
CPAT agents carrying out a surveillance operation Sunday spotted Bradford and his wife exiting their home, and followed them to a Home Depot store in Monrovia where they were arrested without a struggle, officials said. Bradford’s wife was arrested on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of pepper spray.
Documents under the names of Bradford and Heard were found at his home, aurthorities added, and his identity was confirmed via his fingerprints.
It was determined that Bradford had obtained a false birth certificate and social security card while still imprisoned in 1977 and 1978, officials said.
“Bradford began using the name James Heard off and on beginning in the mid-1980s, and by 1992 Richard Bradford had disappeared on paper,” according to the CDCR statement.
He had kept a low profile by keeping his financial assets and property in a trust, with very little activity tied to the name James Heard, officials added.

Four men fatally shot over past six days in Pomona

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POMONA — Police have increased patrols and other efforts in Pomona in response to four fatal shootings in six days, authorities announced Wednesday. Four men between the ages of 18 and 24 have died and another was wounded in the four separate shootings, which took place March 7, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Pomona police officials said. “The department’s homicide detectives and Gang Suppression Unit are diligently investigating the incidents and will continue to do so until all persons responsible are brought to justice,” Pomona police Capt. Michael Olivieri said in a written statement. “The department has begun to deploy additional officers on overtime to supplement the investigative and field crime suppression units,” the captain added. Preliminary investigation indicated the shootings were not directly related, Olivieri said, however, “none of the incidents are considered a random act of violence.” No arrests were made, and Pomona police released no suspect descriptions in any of the slayings. The most recent killing took place about 8:22 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Murchison Street, according to Pomona police Sgt. Hector Rodriguez. Officers responded to reports of a shooting and discovered 18-year-old Michael Castillo of Pomona lying on the ground, mortally wounded. He was pronounced dead a short time later. A 20-year-old Pomona man, Christopher Cotinola, died Sunday after he was found shot inside an apartment in the 700 block of North Gordon Avenue, Pomona police Sgt. Steve Congalton said. Officers were checking on a report of “shots fired” just after 9:30 p.m. when they found Cotinola suffering from gunshot wounds to his “mid-torso,” Congalton said. He was rushed to a hospital and treated along the way, but died from his injuries. About 24 hours earlier, another man — 19-year-old Joseph Cook — was shot and killed in the driveway of a home in the 2200 block of Carlton Avenue, Pomona police officials said. His city of residence was not available. Cook was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:32 p.m. shooting, Congalton said, while a second shooting victim, a 19-year-old man, was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of injuries determined not to be life-threatening. The recent spate of killings began March 7, with the fatal drive-by shooting of 24-year-old Kelly Buruan of Los Angeles as he walked with a child and two strollers about 2:20 p.m. in the 900 block of West 9th Street, Pomona police and Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s officials said. Anyone with information on any of the shootings was asked to contact Pomona police detectives Bebon or Lange at 909-920-2095.

60-year-old West Valinda man killed in shooting identified

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WEST VALINDA — Detectives Saturday released the name of a 60-year-old man gunned down on his own street early Friday.
Richard Quijada was pronounced dead shortly after he was found shot on the side yard of a house in the 13600 block of Flynn Street, in the unincorporated county area of West Valinda, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
He was believed to have been shot just before 4 a.m., when shots were heard in the neighborhood but deputies found no victims, Sgt. Luis Nunez of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
Someone at the home discovered Quijada lying in the yard shortly after 7:30 a.m. and called 9-1-1, officials said. He was believed to have been shot in the front yard of the home before fleeing to the side yard, where he succumbed to his injuries.
No suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, and no motive or suspect description were released.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Former Whittier woman’s husband, daughter killed in suspected murder-suicide

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IRELAND – The husband and 3-year-old daughter of a former Whittier woman who married and moved to Ireland six years ago were found dead in a harbor following an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said.

The bodies of farmer Martin McCarthy, 50, and daughter Clarissa McCarthy, were pulled from shallow water in Audley Cove near Ballydehob, Ireland, early Wednesday.

The father was believed to have drowned the girl before killing himself in an apparent murder-suicide as his marriage broke down, detectives said. His 26-year-old wife, Rebecca McCarthy, formerly of Whittier, had spoken of returning to the United Stated, according to a friend of Martin McCarthy.

Paramedics spent an hour trying to resuscitate Clarissa McCarthy after her lifeless body was recovered from the sea shortly before 2 a.m. as her mother was on the scene. Martin McCarthy’s body was found in shallow water nearby about an hour later.

The remains were taken to a hospital where where assistant state pathologist Margaret Bolster carried out autopsies, determining through a preliminary examination that both drowned.

Rebecca McCarthy, whose maiden name is Rebecca Cejnar, arrived home about midnight at the family’s rural farmhouse in Foilnamuck, Ballydehob, and discovered her husband and their only child were missing.

A note was found at the property, possibly on the kitchen table, which sparked a search around the farm and nearby coastline, officials said.

FULL STORY…

PHOTO of Clarissa McCarthy courtesy of the Irish Examiner

2nd UPDATE: West Valinda man found shot to death in own neighborhood

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WEST VALINDA — A man was found shot to death early Friday in his own neighborhood, several hours after nearby residents reported hearing gunshots, authorities said.
Officials withheld the name of the victim Friday pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
He was described by sheriff’s and coroner’s officials as being in his 50s or 60s.
He was believed to live on the street where the shooting took place, though not at the home where his body was found, Sgt. Luis Nunez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The body was discovered about 7:35 a.m. on Flynn Street, just west of Puente Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Arthur Scott said.
A motive in the killing was not immediately clear, Nunez said.
“We’re keeping all out options open,” he added.
Deputies had received reports of gunshots heard in the area just before 4 a.m., but found no shooting victims, officials said.
But more than three hours later, someone at the home called deputies after finding the body on the side yard of the home, Nunez said.
It appeared the man was shot in the front yard of the home when he was shot, and ran through the side of the yard of the home, where he fell and succumbed to his injuries, Nunez said.
Michael Hazlett, 20, said he was asleep in his bedroom in the early morning hours when he heard what sounded like gunshots: “Five in a row.”
“It sounded right outside my window,” he said, but added that he heard no argument, yelling or vehicle following the shooting.
“All I heard was gunshots and the rain after,” Hazlett said.
The home where the body was found often sees many people coming and going, with people staying for only a brief time, according to Hazlett and Nunez.
Nunez declined to discuss any possible suspect description or say whether the shooter was believed to be on foot or in a vehicle, citing the ongoing investigation.
Hazlett said he’s seen the man he believed to be the shooting victim visit the home several times.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Lt. Dave Dolson at the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO: Staff photo by Watchara Phomicinda

Investigation ongoing into mysterious slaying of Azusa man found dead on Altadena horse trail

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ALTADENA — The investigation continues into the mysterious slaying of an Azusa man found dead on a horse trail in Altadena earlier this month, authorities said.
Marcus Anthony Nieto, 26, was pronounced dead after a passer-by discovered him lying on the horse trail near the 3800 block of Canon Boulevard, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner officials said.
Initial reports indicated he had been shot in the head, however Detective David Gunner of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau declined Thursday to say whether that was the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
“At this point, there’s not a whole lot I can share with you that wouldn’t compromise the investigation,” he said.
A security hold placed on the case at the coroner’s office prevented coroner’s officials from discussing the killing, coroner’s Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
No witnesses to the slaying had been located, and no information regarding a possible suspect was available, Gunner said.
When discovered, “The victim didn’t have any property,” Gunner said, causing detectives to look into the possibility the killing involved a robbery.
The victim was living in Azusa with family members, though he also had a West Covina address associated with him at the coroner’s office, according to sheriff’s and coroner’s officials.
He was married but had no children, Gunner said. He was not believed to be employed at the time of his death.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.