Man, 21, girlfriend, 14, arrested in slaying of Rosemead grandparents

August 12, 2010 | 10:17 pm

A 21-year-old man and his 14-year-old girlfriend were arrested Thursday on suspicion of fatally stabbing the girl's grandparents in their Rosemead home, authorities said.

Sheriff's deputies found Jack Dell Benzer, 70, and his wife, Susan Diane Benzer, 64, in their bed with multiple wounds to their upper torsos, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

The couple's Nissan was missing. As detectives conducted their investigation, they discovered that Rodolfo Lopez and his girlfriend allegedly stole the vehicle and were fleeing to Texas, Lt. Mike Rosson said. The girl's name was not released because of her age.

Texas authorities were alerted, and the two were apprehended in El Paso County. Lopez was booked on two counts of homicide and auto theft, and the girl was booked on auto theft charges, Rosson said.

"The residents of the Rosemead area can rest a little easier tonight knowing that the suspects are in custody," said Rosson, who added that he was "saddened at the tragic loss of these two community members."

Since January 2007, at least 15 slayings have been reported in Rosemead, according to a database compiled by the Times' Homicide Report.

From: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/stabbing.html