Signal Hill man convicted of two murders committed 11 years apart

A 49-year-old Signal Hill man was convicted July 2 of killing of two men in 1996 and 2007, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

After deliberating for less than a day, a jury found Jeffrey Keith Means guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Ronald Henry and second-degree murder in the slaying of Hal Dean Shaw.

Henry, 67, was stabbed to death Dec. 19, 2007, in the 900 block of Dawson Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

On Jan. 17, 2008, Means was arrested on suspicion of stabbing Henry to death in his first floor apartment.

During the investigation of Henry’s killing, detectives with the Long Beach Police Department discovered that Means had been arrested on suspicion of fatally bludgeoning Shaw in 1996. The case was never prosecuted because of an apparent lack of evidence.

Shaw, 48, was found bludgeoned to death June 12, 1996, in Whittier, according to coroner's records.

Eleven years later investigators believed that they had enough evidence to convict Means in Shaw's death.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Julian Recana, Means knew both victims and was the last person to be seen with them before their deaths. DNA evidence also linked the Means to the crimes, Recana said.

Means, who faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, is expected back in court Aug. 22 for sentencing.

-- Maloy Moore