Double-murder suspect ‘snapped,’ police say

A South Los Angeles man who allegedly dismembered his father’s body and dumped the pieces beside a freeway near Fresno had a “history of mental issues,” police said Monday.

Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Pat Gannon said Mulushewa Tebedge, 33, used a knife to cut off his father’s arms and head in the family’s apartment last week to better “handle the body.”

But Tebedge apparently had less of a problem handling his sister. After stabbing her to death, Tebedge allegedly dumped her clothed body beside a freeway in Santa Barbara, police said.

The killings occurred during the Ethiopian family’s traditional Sunday night dinner, police said.

“He snapped and believed his family was out to get him,” Gannon said.

Tebedge was charged Monday with capital murder. He is being held without bail, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Prosecutors say they have not decided whether to seek the death penalty.

The charge stems from the Nov. 19 discovery of 75-year-old Getahun T. Reta’s remains beside Interstate 5 in rural Fresno County. A Caltrans worker found them stuffed into two suitcases and a duffel bag.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Department identified Reta as a Los Angeles resident and directed LAPD detectives to his home in the 1200 block of West 39 Street.

When authorities knocked on the door Wednesday, police said, Tebedge jumped out of one of the second-floor apartment’s windows and ran. He was apprehended a block away.

Tebedge gave police a “rambling” confession of what had taken place three days earlier in Apartment 9, Gannon said.

Tebedge told police that he killed his father and sister, Zerfie Tibeje Getahun, 33. He placed his sister’s body in the family’s car and drove to Santa Barbara, where he left it in a ditch off U.S. 101.

Tebedge said he returned to the Los Angeles apartment, placed his father’s remains in the luggage and drove four hours north to Fresno. After Tebedge dumped the remains, his car broke down, he told police. He left it at a gas station and returned home in a rental car, he said.

“He had a history of mental issues that we’re aware of,” said Gannon, who is in charge of the South Bureau homicide unit. “But, on the other hand, he was able to think this thing through well enough to be able to take one body up north outside of Fresno and then take the other body outside of Santa Barbara.”

When police arrived at the family’s apartment, they sensed something was wrong.

“You could tell quickly that someone was hurt and bled significantly,” Gannon said.

After being questioned, Tebedge led police to his sister’s body, officials said.

Tebedge is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 10.

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jp.renaud@latimes.com