Authorities plan to distribute fliers Friday with a composite drawing of a man detectives think may have been involved in the Dec. 26 killings of a La Verne couple in their home the day after Christmas.
Shirley Isom, 74, and Armie “Troy” Isom, 89, were found dead by a groundskeeper at their sprawling property in the 300 block of Roughrider Road about 1:25 p.m. Dec. 26. The isolated multimillion-dollar home abuts open land. The woman died of blunt force injuries, and her husband apparently was beaten and stabbed.
Investigators developed a composite drawing of a man seen walking in the area about the time the crime was discovered, and they released it to the public on Jan. 7. The man, described as white or Hispanic and in his early 30s, was wearing a dark hooded jacket and carrying a large backpack.
Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., authorities will hand out fliers to motorists along the 3100 block of North Garey Avenue, which is about a mile south of the crime scene; and they will also hand out fliers to passengers of the San Bernardino Metrolink line, which is in the same general area.
“All I can say is the scene provides us a glimpse of what occurred,” Lt. Dave Coleman said at the news conference, where the sketch of the suspect was first released.
“It was a very brutal attack,” Coleman said. “I think it’s safe to say it was most likely a blitz attack at the front door of their home. It appears that the assault occurred at the front door inside.”
The motive is unknown, detectives said. A red Lexus was towed from the property.
Anyone with more information about the homicides was urged to call detectives at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
—City News Service