MAN INDICTED FOR EXECUTION-STYLE DOUBLE MURDER OF STANTON SALES ASSOCIATE AND SECRETARY

For Immediate Release
Case # 10ZF0087

 

April 22, 2010

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN INDICTED FOR EXECUTION-STYLE

DOUBLE MURDER OF STANTON

SALES ASSOCIATE AND SECRETARY

 

SANTA ANA – A Garden Grove man was indicted today for the double murder of a Stanton sales associate and his longtime secretary. Hilbert Pineil Thomas, 39, has been indicted on two felony counts of special circumstances murder. The special circumstances include multiple murders, murder during the commission of robbery, and murder during the commission of burglary. He is also charged with one felony count each of second degree robbery, second degree commercial burglary, and the unlawful taking of a vehicle. Thomas faces sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death.

 

If convicted on all counts, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of life without the possibility of parole. The special circumstances in this case also make Thomas eligible for the death penalty. Thomas is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment April 30, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

 

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office released a press release Oct. 30, 2009, with the following information:

 

On the morning of Feb. 2, 2009, Thomas is accused of walking into the Golden Sun Homes business office on Beach Boulevard in Stanton. He is accused of shooting Matthew Francis Scott, a sales associate and son of the business co-owner, and long-time secretary Elizabeth Ann Palmer execution-style in the head. The defendant is accused of leaving the scene in a Lexus sedan belonging to Palmer.

 

On Oct. 28, 2009, after months of searching for the vehicle, police found the stolen Lexus at the El Dorado Inn on Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim. Evidence from the vehicle led to the defendant’s identification and arrest.

 

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

 

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