Martyne Elizabeth "Dr. Beth" Bonzo, also known as Martyne Dykes-Bonzo, a 45-year-old white woman, was pronounced dead on Thursday, Sept. 26, after she was stabbed and struck with a heavy object in the 27800 block of Palmeras Place in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner records. 

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies found Bonzo lying alone in her home with traumatic injuries after a family member requested a welfare check, said Lt.  Derrick Alfred. 

Bonzo was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:34 p.m., according to coroner's records. The cause of death is listed as sharp and blunt-force injuries of the neck and head. 

Bonzo, a physical therapist who owned Coast Physical Therapy in Rancho Palos Verdes, lived in the home with her husband, Antonio Lopez Jr., 48, a private-practice defense attorney in Rancho Palos Verdes and former deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles …

Continue reading »

Aram Hambardzumyan, a 35-year-old male, died Friday, Sept. 6, after being shot in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Alecia Vamar Benson, a 48-year-old black woman, died Friday, April 28, after she suffered blunt force trauma in the 5500 block of Seacrest Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 9:30 p.m. on  April 24, Benson and her son got into an argument inside her home, and she suffered “blunt force trauma,” said Los Angeles Sheriff’s Det. Kevin Acebedo. 

Benson was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead on April 28 at 6:11 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Acebedo said the argument was the result of a longstanding dispute between Benson and her son, who lived with her.

Acebedo declined to comment further on the killing.

The suspect, Devon Hall, a 29-year-old black man, was taken into police custody on April 25, according to sheriff’s department records.

Hall pleaded not guilty to one count of murder on May 11, according to …

Continue reading »

Anthony Vincent Depiazza, a 39-year-old black man, was found dead Monday, Nov. 23, in Riverside County after he was shot in the 2000 block of Van Karajan Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 

Investigators believe Depiazza was killed in a home on Van Karajan Drive in late October, and then dumped in an open field near Perris, southeast of Riverside, Lt. John Corina said. 

Dirt bikers discovered Depiazza's body near El Nido and Christmas Tree Lane in Lake Matthews, Corina said. 

The Riverside County coroner determined that Depiazza died of gunshot wounds, according to Sgt. Bob Marks.

Coroner's investigators identified Depiazza and discovered he rented a room in the house on Van Karajan Drive, Corina said. 

L.A. County Sheriff's Department investigators went to the house with a search warrant early Dec. 9 but had to wait several hours after one suspect, Randell Dee …

Continue reading »

Robert La Rue, a 48-year-old white man, was fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies Tuesday, Dec. 27, in the 29300 block of Golden Meadow Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Deputies responded to a home after reports that La Rue had assaulted his 85-year-old father.

The son called the Sheriff's Department and warned that he had a high-powered rifle and handgun, and then repeated the threat to the responding deputies, said sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.

La Rue refused to cooperate with the deputies and then took up a shooting stance with a metal object, leading deputies to shoot him for their own protection, Parker said. The metal object recovered next to La Rue was a knife, Parker said.

La Rue was pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner's records show he sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest and superficial cuts to his right lower inner …

Continue reading »

Joseph Lewis, a 22-year-old black man, was found dead Friday, July 29, in the 5600 block of Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Lewis' body was discovered by hikers at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park about 10 p.m., near trails that lead to the ocean, an official with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said.

The victim, who is from San Pedro, had been shot several times in the upper torso.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about Lewis’ death to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted at the Crime Stoppers hotline (800) 222-8477.

-- Catherine Saillant

Avid Carmichael Obhaimbo Owuor, a 34-year-old black male, died Friday, Dec. 23, after being shot in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Milita Ann Moine, a 44-year-old white female, died Friday, Aug. 31, after sustaining blunt force trauma in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Lauren Serene Key-Marer, a 4-year-old white female, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

George Willard Chapin, a 87-year-old white male, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, after being shot in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Pauline Rocheford Chapin, a 77-year-old white female, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, after being shot in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Troy Antoine Holmes, a 22-year-old black male, died Monday, May 1, after being shot in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.