Robbery Probed As Possible Motive In Killing Of Former Judge's Widow
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A homicide investigation continued Tuesday into the death of an 86-year-old woman whose body was discovered in her home in the exclusive Windsor Square area.
Officers were called to the home around 7:30 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of North Beachwood Drive, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
"She was discovered by a caretaker who comes over a couple times a day to take care of the animals," Lt. John Radtke said. "This could be a burglary or a home-invasion robbery gone wrong."
Police identified the woman as Antonia Yager, the widow of a retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas Yager, who died in 2008.
"The Fire Department came out here and determined she had what looked like a stab wound, and so they called police," Radtke said.
He added there was no immediate sign of forced entry to the home, and it wasn't evident that anything was stolen, but Susan Bereti, who may have been the last person to see Yager alive, thought maybe someone was after her valuables.
"She loved good jewelry, had great jewelry and wore it," Bereti said. "I said just be careful always walking on the street, but I never thought she would die or someone would kill her."
Bereti and Yager enjoyed a Christmas dinner Sunday night before Bereti dropped her off at her home.
"I walked her to the back yard, and I asked her if she needed any help and said, 'Can I come in?' and she said, 'No, no Suzy,' so I left her," Bereti recalled. "That was the last time I saw her."
Authorities hoped to review security camera footage from nearby residences.
"There are a lot of good things to be taken up here, and the bad guys, unfortunately, come to this part of town to get valuables," Radtke said.
Neighbors say that although the area may not be that secure, the community is quiet and violent crimes are rare as the last murder took place more than a decade ago.
Anyone with information should contact LAPD's West Bureau Homicide investigators at (213)382-9470.
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