Confessed Bay Point Murderer: I Didn't Do It For The Golden Flute
A murder trial dubbed "The Case of the Golden Flute" is coming to an end with a Contra Costa County prosecutor saying the motive was greed and hate.
It was nearly two years ago that retired bank executive Ted Neff was found dead in his burning Bay Point home. Police later discovered that Neff had been strangled before the home was set on fire. They also discovered that his prized golden flute was missing.
KCBS Bob Melrose Reporting:
Police say the case broke when 24-year-old Alex Rivera tried to sell the $23,000 flute on EBay. Those in the music community who knew the flute had been taken alerted police.
On the witness stand Rivera admitted to killing Neff because he says the man had infected him with HIV. Prosecutor Hal Jewett scoffed at that idea during his closing argument, saying this is a case of greed and hate.
Rivera, who worked as a prostitute, had been seeing Neff on a regular basis. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life without parole.
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