Sheriff’s detectives arrested a suspect Sunday in connection with the stabbing death of an 84-year-old man in the Whittier area.
The suspect was taken into custody about 9 a.m., according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
He was booked for suspicion of burglary and murder, sheriff’s officials said. His name was withheld pending further investigation. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for filing considerations.
Tips from the public and other law enforcement agencies, along with surveillance footage that was recovered, led investigators to identify the suspect, officials said.
The body of Rolland Alexander II was found around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in a house in the 15300 block of Goodhue Street, just west of the Whittier city limits in the unincorporated South Whittier area, sheriff’s officials said. They allege he left in the victim’s vehicle, which was recovered in Chino.
Detectives believe the suspect also assaulted an “elderly” man in the 15500 block of Fernview Street in Whittier, about four-tenths of a mile from Alexander’s home and a few minutes before the homicide, but he fled when that victim’s son intervened in that attack, Sheriff Robert Luna said.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Luna displayed security video indicating the suspect had entered Alexander’s residence about 2:45 p.m. Monday.
Luna said the suspect drove away a couple of minutes later in Alexander’s vehicle — a silver Toyota RAV4, — which was recovered in Chino.
“Based on the surveillance video, we believe the murder occurred on Aug. 28 at approximately 2:45 p.m.,” Luna said.
Luna said security images showed the Alexander’s vehicle being driven in Ontario around 3 a.m. Tuesday, and also showed it parked in Chino about three hours later.
Luna urged anyone with information on the case to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.