Dog’s Chain Is Linked to Accused Slayer of 3

A 28-inch chain found around the neck of a slain University of San Diego student is similar to a chain once worn by David Allen Lucas’ dog, a witness at Lucas’ pretrial hearing testified Wednesday.

Matthew C. Limback, 18, who once worked at Lucas’ Spring Valley carpet cleaning company, told the court he saw a similar chain around the neck of Lucas’ golden retriever during visits to Lucas’ home late last year.

Prosecuting attorneys hope to prove that the chain worn by the dog was the one found around the neck of Anne Catherine Swanke when her body was discovered Nov. 24 on a remote hillside in Spring Valley. An autopsy determined that she had been strangled with the chain before her throat was slashed.

In addition to being charged in Swanke’s death, Lucas, 29, is charged in the Oct. 23 slayings of Lakeside baby sitter Rhonda Cheryl Strange and 3-year-old Amber Fisher. He is also charged with attempting to murder Jody Santiago, 30, of Seattle. Each victim had been strangled before her throat was slashed.

During the hearing, Limback said he had known Lucas for almost a year and that they often went fishing together. He said he visited Lucas’ home at least four times, and each time he went to the house the dog had the chain around its neck.

Defense attorney G. Anthony Gilham tried to discredit Limback’s testimony by saying that Limback was making the statements to get part of a $26,000 reward offered for information leading to the conviction of Swanke’s killer.

Limback denied that the reward had anything to do with his testimony, but said he had asked police more than once about his eligibility for the money. Police told him they would make a decision about the reward when the trial is over, he said.

Lucas’ wife, Shannon, was called into court to testify, but she refused.