Pasadena: May 2008 Archives

The PCC Courier got a copy of the coroner's report on Liya "Jessie" Lu.

Lu, a student at PCC, went missing last summer. Her body was later discovered stuffed in a trashcan in an Arcadia b ackyard.

Isaac Campbell, Liu's boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of killing Liu after he was captured in Minnesota, following his flight from California.

Here's an excerpt of the Courier story by reporter Franco Sui Yuan: (nice job Franco!)

The cause of death of former PCC student Liya 'Jessie' Lu remains a mystery after the Coroner's medical examiners released their report on Tuesday.

Lu's body was found in a trashcan covered with approximately 10 gallons of kitty litter on Sept. 15, almost a month after her disappearance.

"The elaborate preparation to dispose of the cadaver is a strong indication of the intent to dispose of evidence that could point out the cause and manner of death," said medical examiners in the Coroner's autopsy report. "Considering all these circumstances the manner of death is homicidal."

Eventually, Lu's advanced-decomposing body stopped any type of conclusions in regards of her cause of death. "The cause of death in this case remains undetermined after autopsy and toxicological examinations," said the report.

The Coroner's report reveals that Lu's body was suffering greenish discoloration on the skin, disintegration on the internal and external organs, and brain liquification - the process in which a solid or a gas becomes liquid.

The report also discloses that Lu's body had no external or internal evidence of injuries, which increased the ambiguity on her slaying.

One-time PCC nursing program student Isaac Campbell is charged with murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend Lu.

Residents of the toney Linda Vista neighborhood in Pasadena received a plea for help from the Pasadena Police Department.

In a letter to homeowners, cops note a string of daytime burglaries in an unnamed "hillside neighborhood"

Here's an excerpt:

"The Pasadena Police Department wants you to be on the look-out. In recent days there have been several daytime burglaries when the victims were away at work ...

"In many of the burglaries it would appear that the suspects are familiar with the hiding places of the residents valuables

"If you see unfamiliar persons loitering or vehicles parked in the area and find it suspicious in nature, regardless of the time of day or night, please call the police department...

Together we can make a difference!

Sort of interesting that the letter implies that the burglars are familiar with thier victims, but asks potential victims to be on the lookout for unfamiliar persons ...hmmmm. Oh if you do see anything, call (626) 744-4241

When I first saw this photo by Watchara Phomicinda, I thought it was somebody wearing a Jimmy Carter mask at Vroman's Wednesday. Turns out, it's just Jimma bein Jimma.

Here's the top of a story I just filed for tomorrow's newspaper:

The District Attorney's Office added 29 more charges Wednesday to its case against a Covina man accused of using Craigslist and eBay to scam renters and potential investors.

Prosecutors accuse Pardeep Singh, 30, of defrauding 22 potential renters of $2,400 each. Wednesday's filing follows a seven-count criminal complaint brought against Singh last week. He remains at large.

Two of the counts in the amended complaint involve the suspected theft of $185,000 from Kenneth Yandoli, a Glendale man.

"I hope something comes of it," said Jennifer Yandoli, who along with her husband loaned Singh $100,000 in September in exchange for a trust deed on Singh's Covina home at 5441 N. Calera Ave., according to public records.