The Antelope Valley Times

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Man in custody in death of probation officer in Lancaster [UPDATE: Suspect charged]

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[Inset: Image of Paula Lind via AFSCME Local 685 Facebook page.] Main image of crime scene by BRYAN HALL.
LANCASTER – A man was in custody Tuesday, Sept. 27, in connection with the apparent beating death of a veteran Los Angeles County deputy probation officer in her Lancaster home.

The man, whose name has not been released, was detained by deputies who responded to the 45500 block of Barrymore Avenue at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, and he was arrested later that day, Lt. Mike Gomez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau told City News Service. Online media reports have stated that the man was homeless, but this information was not confirmed by sheriff’s officials.

Authorities believe the man broke into the residence, but a motive was unclear, Gomez said.

Paula Lind, 52, died at the scene, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported. An autopsy was pending to determine her cause of death. According to the county Probation Department, Lind was a 16-year veteran of the agency.

“Our hearts are heavy today,” county Chief Probation Officer Adolfo Gonzales said in a statement. “Our officers work daily to help folks start over and rebuild their lives. Their work helps keep communities safe. It is horrifying to hear that one of our beloved officers passed in this manner. I am hopeful that the individual responsible for this attack will be held accountable and that justice will prevail. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lind family, loved ones, and friends.”

Deputies were sent to the Lind’s Barrymore Avenue residence around 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, on a “burglary/home invasion call,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“When deputies arrived, they found the victim … unresponsive and suffering from blunt head trauma. The victim was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene,” the sheriff’s news release states.

AFSCME Local 685, the union representing deputy probation officers, announced on Facebook on Sunday that the victim was one of its 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.”

In a statement on Monday, 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.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lind was 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 this crime is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATE: The man accused in Paula Lind’s killing was charged today [Sept. 27] in a “John Doe” complaint with one count each of murder, assault with intent to commit rape during a residential burglary, first-degree residential burglary and sexual contact with deceased remains, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

The man — whose identity is unknown — was ordered to be held without bail while awaiting arraignment, which was postponed until Oct. 26.

Previous related story: Woman found dead in Lancaster was a probation officer; investigation continues

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43 comments for "Man in custody in death of probation officer in Lancaster [UPDATE: Suspect charged]"

  2. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Calling 911 rarely will save you. You are your own first line of defense. Every citizen should own a gun and practice using it. The 2nd Amendment exists for a reason. Do not buy into the current political narrative because it can cost you your life.

    • Sure Mikey…capitalize on the one home invasion fatality in years to sell your paranoid nonsense. By the way, I can sell you a rubber suit guaranteed to protect you when your house is struck by lightning for a good price. You interested?

      By the way…note that there is a whole lot of reasoning pointing towards this being anything but random. Rather than “get a gun” the more practical advice for protecting oneself that can be drawn from this is probably “avoid jobs in law enforcement.”

      • Time-Served-Tim it’s well known that you oppose guns because you can’t own one yourself. Therefore you believe nobody else should have the right either. You just old, tired, and delusional. The rest of us see the wanton violence occurring in every city all over this country. You can bury your head in the sand and believe any theory that makes you feel safer, but the reality is that innocent people are dying daily in our country due to this violence.

        • LOL..you think there’s anything really stopping me from owning a gun Mike? Get serious. You and your “gun in every breadbox” theory means that there are always a mountain of lost and stolen guns available to “people like me.” Guns are like candy and babies; if I ever really needed one I’d just take yours and leave you crying.

      • It’s not about the fatality aspect. It’s about being able to defend yourself and your home period.

        And how is there a whole lot of reasoning for this being anything but random? She worked in the juvenile department and this guy wasn’t a juvenile. It was a completely random attack by a sick f****r who was having sex with her dead body.

          • He’s an adult from another country that they can’t nail down his identity. For some reason, I don’t think he was holding a grudge.

        • He was illegal immigrant only in our country a very short time he refused to give his name that’s why the John Doe!

  3. Someone lost their life, no matter if she knew him or not. It’s a tragic situation that should’ve never happened. What we must do as the community is hold the DA Gascon accountable. No more soft on crime, eliminate this let’s set everyone free and enter rehabilitation over incarceration garbage he’s been doing. Total BS!!!!! This idiot better not be roaming our streets in 6 months. Ms. Lind was a beautiful person, honor her memory. Stop gossiping and let’s all hope that we’re not the next victim.

    • Lati, you are correct, this should never have happened!! Gascon and anyone else that believes being soft on crime is a good thing needs to be removed from office and held accountable for all those hurt or killed by someone they let out early or should have never been let out, Gascon should do jail time for these crimes!!!

      This poor lady was simply coming home from work and was brutally murdered, absolutely breaks my heart that this happened! My thoughts are that if she had a gun, she’d may still be alive today and would’ve been calling 911 to come pick up a dead intruder!!!! SOOO SAD!

      My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends.

      • I am so SORRY I WAS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I AM THE BRUCE ANGUIANO AND I AM THE BROTHER OF THE UNIDENTIFIED PERSON IN JAIL FOR THE MURDER CASE AND HE IS ON PAROLE AS HE MURDERED A MAN OF ORANGE COUNTY IN COSTA MESA CA YOU ARE NOT DOING IT RIGHT YET BUT IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TODAY REGARDING THE INFO YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME FOR SURE ATTACHED IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER FOR YOUR HELP AND PHOTOS OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOUR HELP WITH THIS CASE.
        Please send me the information you need for me to help with your investigation for this is a very important day for me and the world of his family of the community church “FAKED HIS FAMILY AND UNIVERSITY CHURCH COLLEGE AND MAIL FROM THE CHURCH “to his only son in south fact he is so proud to be a one who is always the heaven of the church and life is always so blessed that he is guaranteed by his love of life forever forever right to have all the people in the way of the information on the internet that you are not going through yet again because you all have been sent OUT FALSE HOPE TO YOU TO DIVERT THE REAL I am so proud to be a certified person you and your department of law enforcement for ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BE INSIDER WITHOUT A DOUBT ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE IS KENT XIAVER ANGUIANO AND HIS ORANGE COUNTY INFO ON HIS PHONE AND HIS ONLY ONE HAS A GOOD AS HE SAID HE’S NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL HE GETS A GOOD ATTORNEY . Please look into this case ASAP . California HEALTH CARE FACILITY OFFICE IN AND I HIS ONLY ONE TIME PRISON HE HAD BEFORE HIS ARREST WAS TO DIE IN PRISON FOR HIS ONLY MAN WHO KILLING AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE AND HIS CHURCH FAMILY IS THE SAME WAY AS HE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO THE WORLD.
        CDC NUMBER IS P23136 to get a certified service provider in this case.
        Please contact me once you get a chance to talk with this personal person.
        Bruce ANGUIANO
        949 627 5842 for my phone and email address is Brumar4ever@outlook. Com.

    • I’m not sure what you want DA Gascon to do differently. The suspect has been arrested and charged with “murder, assault with intent to commit rape during a residential burglary, first-degree residential burglary and sexual contact with deceased remains.”

      Gascon’s office has requested that the man remain in custody and no bail be set. Where is this “soft on crime” narrative you’re talking about??

      https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/man-charged-murder-los-angeles-county-probation-officer-paula-lind

        • Is it propaganda when it’s the truth? Releasing felons caught with guns only to have them get caught again the next day with another gun? Gang members on parole for being involved with a previous murder involved in another attempted murder getting released with time served? There’s a reason most of the cities in LA County have given the guy a vote of no confidence and it’s not because of propaganda.

          I have a family member who had to move out of state because of his light on crime policies and the DAs office to put criminals in jail

    • We have a huge homeless problem in Lancaster. It was not helped when mayor Rex received a million dollars from the county for the homeless shelter, and then shut down the shelter. Rex, Marv, and their former sidekick D’Errico claimed that LA was sending 67 homeless people a day to Lancaster. This has not been verified nor is it true. In one year, that would be 24,445 people. There are a lot of homeless in Lancaster, but no where near that number.

      Then, Rex and Marv declined to go with a 700 bed facility on Ave. I for a shelter that could service 1,400 a day and went with a no bid contract to their pal for a 140 bed facility that charges money.

      Between the county not sending enough money and total incompetence and disdain for the homeless by our elected leaders in Lancaster, we have a mess on our hands. Rex’s solution is to have citizens carry guns illegally in public and shoot the homeless if they think they are being robbed.

      Think it’s time for some new leadership in Lancaster?

  5. Again Sir – please contact the Sheriffs Department. No detail is minor in the investigation that has to take place. Her relatives would want to see Justice served. These things you may have observed may make a difference in the perpetrators conviction. Murder in the commission of a burglary may instead actually be a pre-meditated murder if he lay in wait inside her residence for her. Don’t try this in the Court of Public Opinion. Don’t soil her character with what you believed you observed. Please keep in mind the importance of a fair and impartial jury when the time comes. Let’s not “sensationalize” this case and make things “grimy” – you wouldn’t want that done to you or any of your family members.

    • Mr. Someone said, ”Please allow the authorities to do their job Mr. Jerome.”

      If someone sees something that hundreds of other people saw at an event, it doesn’t stop the police from doing their job.

      Burglary? There is no evidence of theft. It could be a trespassing and a home invasion. His intentions may not have been murder. He may have asked her to reconcile and she said no and in the heat of passion he structure her causing the death without intention to kill. Maybe, it’s manslaughter, home invasion and trespassing. He didn’t leave the scene like someone trying to hide. Someone else would have hopped in their vehicle and left within seconds. Well, they have defense lawyers that put facts together to develop a clear picture.

      • Hey Jerome you have a First Degree Residential Burglary when you enter a structure to commit ANY crime, meaning it does not have to be theft. You sound like a lefty defense attorney. Good luck bro.

  6. Please allow the authorities to do their job Mr. Jerome. Unless you were there and know something no one else does, this is not the time or the place for gossip and “speculations. You should be ashamed of yourself. “If” you do believe you know something, the appropriate thing to do is to contact the Sheriffs Department and give your statement.
    Please show respect. This Woman lost her life in this brutal attack. She leaves behind family, friends and coworkers who loved her and I’m sure are profoundly distraught. They along with the community are trying to process this horrible crime. And no, I didn’t personally know her but your lack of compassion and tact is part of what is wrong in society today.

    • How smart can anyone be? All the detectives have to do is talk to the event supervisor’s from that church event in the Lancaster park near the Lancaster High School. She worked at the stand giving out clothing. She was registered to work their and all the event coordinator’s saw them together. Those event supervisor’s knew them both and they’re professional witness. Just call the church yourselves and get it from the horse’s mouth. She broke up with him and he broke into her home to reconcile. She told him it was over and he hit her. He didn’t leave the scene.

      • So she was dating a transient? That’s absolutely hilarious. He didn’t just hit her, he beat her to death and the reason he didn’t leave is because he was having sex with her dead body.

    • The article clearly stated that the sheriff had not confirmed that the person was homeless. And what do you propose “we” do about the crazy homeless people. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink it. A woman tragically lost her life. Hope justice is swift. Crazy or not.

      • S.A.D.O. M.A.S.O.C.H.I.S.M.:
        Stay Another Day Or Make Another Song Or Chase Him In Sad Moment

        ?
        Translation: Tomorrow will be another day.

    • There’s more to the story than the Media knows. I don’t know anything about what this story is really about, but I saw something that you would be interested in, ACE.

      I saw that woman Paula Lind at a public event in the Lancaster park two months ago. She was giving out clothing to poor people at a stand. There was a large white tent with a church gathering inside. On the news video, I saw the guy who the police found in her house. Well, I saw that same guy in the same clothes at that same event event in Lancaster talking to Paula Lind in a personal way. I thought he was her son and then I thought he might be her friend or boyfriend. They were always together with their bodies almost touching side by side. The Media is saying he was a homeless stranger but that’s not what I saw at the Lancaster park.

    • I saw Paula Lind at a Lancaster park event two months ago walking, talking and smooching with that guy the police found in her house.

      • Certainly hope you have talked to the police about this and gave them a statement. You shouldn’t be talking about it in a public forum.