Evidence shows someone tried to cover up Hacienda Heights double murder, investigators say
HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. (KABC) -- Homicide investigators are trying to solve a double murder in Hacienda Heights.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies continued patrols in the area Thursday. This shocking discovery has neighbors stunned.
"It was kind of concerning because I have a family, I have four boys, and it's very unlikely around here," said Esperanza Martinez, a neighbor. "We thought we lived in a safe neighborhood."
One victim is believed to be the 84-year-old homeowner. The woman's body and the body of a man were found in two different rooms - both dead for several days.
Deputies made the discovery after responding to the home to conduct a welfare check because the elderly woman hadn't been seen or heard from in days.
"I'm hearing that this has been going on for days to the point where a stench, a scent has to be the reason why they're caught," said Edgar Siliezar, a neighbor. "It hurts me to hear that."
Investigators say there is evidence someone tried to cover up the murders.
"The bodies were in pretty bad shape because they had been there a while, but you can tell it was a homicide," said Lt. John Corina with the sheriff's department. "These two people were killed at the hands of somebody else, and then they tried to clean it up, clean the scene up a little bit."
Neighbors say there had been some trouble in the past at the home. A few months ago, they saw items thrown out on the curb.
"It looked liked somebody had been evicted or somebody had been kicked out," said Martinez.
Meanwhile, the woman's son is currently in jail for elder abuse.
"He's been in jail for a few months so obviously he wasn't involved, but there were other people that would come to visit him," said Corina. "The woman who lived there suffered from some type of dementia, a certain degree, so she would let these people in her home. One of these persons might have been involved or have information about what happened."
The victim's 2001 Toyota Camry, which was considered stolen, was found Thursday at about noon in the 12100 block of Magnolia Street in El Monte, sheriff's officials said. The car was towed, stored and will be processed by the sheriff's crime lab.
Anyone with information about this case was asked to contact the L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
