The incident was reported around 12:05 a .m. Sunday, Sept. 25, on the 45500 block of Barrymore Avenue, where deputies responded to a “burglary/home invasion call,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“When deputies arrived, they found the victim, a Black female, 50-55 years of age, unresponsive and suffering from blunt head trauma. The victim was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene,” the news release states. Her name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification.
“A male who was discovered in the house has been currently detained,” the sheriff’s news release states. No further information from the sheriff’s department was released.
According to a Facebook post on Sunday by AFSCME Local 685, the union representing deputy probation officers, the victim was one of the union’s members.
“One of our DPO II was found deceased early this morning at her residence in Antelope Valley,” according to the union. “… The preliminary information is that she may be a victim of homicide. … Meanwhile, please pray for family during this tragic event.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, the woman was a veteran deputy probation officer assigned to Barry J. Nidorf juvenile hall in Sylmar. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the case told The Times that the woman had just come home from work when the attack happened.
Anyone with information on the crime was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
UPDATE: According to the county Probation Department, Paula Lind was a 16-year veteran of the agency who “was a victim of a home invasion where she suffered fatal injuries.”
“The department sends our sincere condolences and prayers to her family and loved ones during their time of sorrow,” according to the agency.
In a statement issued Monday, Sept. 26, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger called Lind’s death “a tragic loss of life.”
“She was a public servant that dedicated her life’s work to helping effect positive change in the lives of the probationers she supervised,” Barger said. “The perpetrator responsible for this brutal attack must be held accountable and brought to justice. I will continue to track the outcome of this investigation closely.”
The coroner’s office had not formally identified the victim as of early Monday afternoon, saying only she was a woman about 50-55 years old.
Alenna Schofield says
Wow! I hope she did not know too much. May have been retaliation from a client or a relationship gone wrong. Praying for her. This is tragic and God knows I am praying that the truth be revealed and the perpetrators be exposed.
Blunt Head Trauma says
Targeted or random?
Home invaders are not benign criminals says
Good question. Hopefully the individual found in the house can answer it – truthfully
Anonymous says
Leaning towards targeted. This just seems suspicious and the different outlets (news clips, articles) are reporting different things. The male in the house was described as a “man” but another outlet said four “teenagers” did it with one detained. Confusing.