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Husband of Slain Bishop's Housekeeper Arrested in Connection With His Murder
Suspect Carlos Medina's wife worked as a housekeeper for Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, who was found fatally shot in his Los Angeles home, authorities said.
The husband of a slain Los Angeles cleric’s housekeeper has now been arrested in connection with the bishop’s suspected murder.
Carlos Medina has been arrested the death of 69-year-old Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced in a Monday press conference.
During the presser, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that they were tipped off about Medina by someone who said that Medina had been was acting strangely after the O'Connell's death and claimed he was owed money by the cleric, the Los Angeles Times reports. The detective said investigators linked Medina to the killing through surveillance video that connects Medina’s vehicle to the scene. Luna referred to Medina as a 65-year-old man but jail records list him as 61.
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At about 1 p.m., deputies had responded to a call about a person not breathing at O’Connell’s home in Torrance. A deacon had entered the house to check on O'Connell after he missed a scheduled meeting; when he located O’Connell, he called 911, NBC Los Angeles reports.
When first responders arrived, they pronounced O’Connell dead at the scene. Luna explained on Monday that he was shot at least once in his upper body in his own bedroom.
Medina is married to O’Connell’s housekeeper and had previously “done work around the residence” himself, according to Luna. Weapons were found at the home and ballistic tests are pending. There were no signs of forced entry.
Medina's wife wasn't identified and hasn't been implicated in O'Connell's death, according to NBC News.
O’Connell, who was born in Ireland, served as a priest and bishop in L.A. County for more than 45 years, according to NBC Los Angeles. His work included trying to improve relations between police and the community in south Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez stated as he choked back tears during Monday’s press conference that "every day he [O’Connell] worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant and to all those living on society’s margins. He was a good priest, a good bishop, and a man of peace, and we are very sad to lose him.”
Medina is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. It is not clear if he has an attorney.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department called the slain bishop a "guiding light for so many," noting that his "legacy will continue to live on through the community that he helped build."
