Suspicious Circumstances Result In Homicide Arrest – Update

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, November 10, 2000

"Suspicious Circumstances Result In Homicide Arrest"

Canoga Park – On Friday, November 10, 2000, at approximately 11:15 AM, Devonshire Area Patrol Officers responded to a citizen generated radio call at 8700 Desoto Avenue. The call was regarding a possible murder investigation. Upon their arrival at the apartment complex, the officers were advised regarding evidence of a homicide that was present in an unspecified apartment. The officers were advised by a person at the scene that the apartment is occupied by a male relative of theirs and a female associate of his. The person also indicated that the female associate had armed herself .

The officers deployed on the unit and found that the door was shut. The officers announced their presence several times and received no response from inside the apartment. The officers forced entry to the unit and located a female inside the apartment. The female appeared to have sustained self inflicted wounds of an unspecified nature. The female was detained for medical treatment and for investigation of murder. In order to ensure there were no other possible suspects or potential victims, the officers conducted a search of the apartment. During this brief cursory search, apparent human remains (no specific description at this time) were discovered. The officers immediately exited and secured the apartment at this time.

Devonshire Homicide Detectives responded to the location and assumed investigative responsibility. The detectives are currently processing a search warrant in order to further the investigation. The female suspect continues to receive medical treatment and will be booked for murder at a Los Angeles County facility that is infirmary equipped. The investigation relative to the apartment will resume pending the acquisition and service of a search warrant. The suspect is a female white, approximately 50 years of age. Her identity is unknown at this time and she will be booked as Jane Doe. The status of the male occupant of the apartment remains under investigation.

This press release was prepared by Officer Don Cox, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

**** UPDATE ****

Devonshire Homicide personnel acquired a search warrant for the apartment located at 8700 Desoto Avenue. The warrant was served on November 10, 2000, at approximately 8:00 P.M. The Homicide investigators were assisted by Criminalists from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Scientific Investigation Division and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Partial human remains were recovered from within the confines of the apartment by the Coroner Investigator and Coroner Criminalist. The remains appear to be that of an adult male Caucasian. The specificity of those remains and the location of their recovery cannot be disclosed at this time in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation. The cause of death relative to the collected human remains is undetermined, pending further examination by the Los Angeles County Coroner personnel. The whereabouts of the tenant of the apartment relevant to this investigation have not been established to date, and this aspect of the case remains under investigation. The primary tenant is a seventy-three-year-old male Caucasian. His name will not be released until all known relatives have been notified of his missing status, due to the uncertain nature of the investigation.

The female arrestee refused to identify herself to authorities, and she was booked as "Jane Doe" at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s USCMC Jail Ward due to her injuries. A subsequent fingerprint check identified the woman as Karen Lee Huster, a forty-one-year-old Caucasian. The fingerprint search also revealed that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon, holds a warrant for her arrest for the murder of her ten-year-old daughter, who was last seen alive on September 1, 1996. The minor nor her remains have been located to date. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will not address inquiries regarding this matter prior to Monday, November 13, 2000. The assigned investigator is Detective J. Stratford. He can be reached on November 13, 2000, at 503-846-2597. Washington County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer, Marlene Gaskins, can be contacted no sooner than November 13, 2000, at 503-846-2566.

Devonshire Homicide personnel will be unavailable for further comment on this investigation prior to Monday, November 13, 2000 and at that time all inquires can then be directed to Detective Mike Oppelt, Devonshire Area Homicide Coordinator, at 818-756-8291.

This updated press release was prepared by Officer Charlotte Broughton, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.

For Release 5:00 pm PST
November 10, 2000