Man Convicted of Murders of Elderly Monrovia Couple

Man Convicted of Murders
of Elderly Monrovia Couple

July 15, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
Shiara Dávila, Assistant PIO
(213) 974-3525

LOS ANGELES – Jurors today convicted a 38-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing an elderly couple in their Monrovia home.

Alfredo Valenzuela of Monrovia was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the July 2003 slayings of Bernice and Clark Shaum. Jurors found true special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder in the course of a robbery and murder in the course of a burglary.

Jurors also found true a criminal enhancement that the defendant used a knife in the commission of the offenses.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lance Ito said the penalty phase of the trial will begin at 9:30 a.m. on July 16. Valenzuela faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

Deputy District Attorney Brook White of the Pasadena Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Valenzuela’s girlfriend, Shawna Robles, 37, was convicted in 2008 of two counts of special circumstance murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The victims, who were in their 70s, were lifelong family friends whom the defendant had known since his childhood. Evidence presented at trial revealed that between July 25 and 26, 2003, Valenzuela entered the couple’s home through a bedroom window.

Upon entering, the defendant landed on Bernice Shaum and went on to stab her more than 40 times, according to the evidence presented in the trial. Valenzuela then opened the door for co-defendant Robles, at which point the victim’s husband – who was sleeping in a separate bedroom – awoke. Valenzuela and Robles then attacked Clark Shaum, stabbing him at least 113 times, according to evidence presented in court.

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