Man suspected of killing wife, infant son in Westmont arrested

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The man suspected of killing his wife and 2-month-old son in Westmont was arrested by Los Angeles police early Friday morning.

Investigators said Algernon Rieux, 26, was captured in San Pedro at 3:30 a.m. by officers with the LAPD's Harbor Division.

He was brought over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's South Los Angeles station to be questioned by homicide investigators.

He was arrested on two counts of murder and was being held in lieu of $1,040,000 bail.

Rieux's mother found the victims' bodies inside a home in the 11100 block of S. Normandie Avenue Thursday morning.

Detectives identified the victims as 26-year-old Jacqueline Rieux and 2-month-old Joshua Rieux.

According to authorities, Algernon Rieux has a history of drug use and mental health issues.

Jacqueline Rieux's friend Clevette Foxworth said trouble started at the home as soon as Algernon Rieux got out of prison a couple months ago.

"It was like timing. He got out of jail right when the baby was born. It was like, as soon as she came home from the hospital, he got out of jail. I wish they would have kept him there," Foxworth said.

Foxworth also said there was a history of domestic violence in the family.

"Abusive, controlling. She couldn't talk to her neighbors when he was around. When he wasn't around, she was happy, walk to the store with the kids, the neighborhood kids around here," Foxworth said. "She couldn't be herself."

There was no word on a possible motive.

Anyone with information about this case was urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.