Suspect arrested in murder of La Verne elderly couple

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- The man accused in the brutal murder of a wealthy elderly couple in La Verne has been identified as 23-year-old Luke Fabela, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.

Fabela was arrested in January on auto theft charges.

On Dec. 26, a groundskeeper found the couple -- 74-year-old Shirley Isom and her husband 89-year-old Armie Isom -- dead in their home in the 300 block of Roughrider Road.

Armie Isom was beaten to death and Shirley Isom was badly beaten and stabbed to death, authorities said.

Investigators say Fabela was the man seen by some witnesses who was hiking near Isom's home on the day of the murders.

In January, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released a sketch of the suspect in hopes of catching him. Ultimately, DNA evidence linked Fabela to the crime, Lt. Dave Coleman said.

Investigators did not disclose whether anything was stolen from the couple's home or point to a motive.

"That's going to be one of mysteries," Coleman said.