Pair Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Irvine Man

Westminster police Tuesday arrested two men suspected of beating an Irvine man to death in his home, authorities said.

Sinatra O’Neil Washington, 26, of Santa Ana and William Agee, 26, a transient with no local address, were taken to the Newport Beach City Jail and held without bail in connection with the murder of William C. Farley, according to Irvine Police Lt. Gene Norden.

Farley, 66, was discovered on the floor of his dining room at 10 p.m. Monday by a housemate, police said. The victim apparently died of severe blows to the head from a blunt object, Irvine Lt. Al Muir reported.

Police said they were alerted by John Allen Morin, a college student who shared Farley’s home. Morin also told them that the victim’s silver 1985 Nissan was missing, authorities said. Farley’s home was in disarray, indicating that a struggle had taken place, Muir added.

Arrests at Staked-Out Store

Less than three hours later, Washington and Agee were arrested by Westminster police after they allegedly smashed the windows of a Radio Shack store on Brookhurst Avenue and began stealing merchandise.

Police said they had been staking out the store, which has been burglarized 10 times in the past six months, and saw the two men drive up to the store in what turned out to be Farley’s car. The suspects threw large rocks through the windows and attempted to steal a videocassette recorder before they were apprehended, officers said.

Westminster police linked Washington and Agee to Farley’s murder through the victim’s car, Muir said. After booking the men on charges of burglary and murder, officers turned them over to Irvine police.

A coroner’s report on Farley is expected today. Irvine police said they are continuing their investigation.