Bank Vice President Found Slain; Office Sealed in Search for Clues

The 57-year-old vice president of a Pomona bank was found beaten to death Sunday in the bedroom of his Claremont condominium, possibly the victim of a burglary attempt, police said Monday.

Claremont police said preliminary autopsy results showed that David R. Evans II, vice president and personnel manager of Pomona First Federal Savings and Loan Assn., died of severe head injuries apparently inflicted with a blunt object.

Evans was last seen by neighbors Friday afternoon, Claremont Police Sgt. Richard Mellem said, and was found about 6:30 p.m. Sunday when two neighbors noticed newspapers on his doorstep and a front door slightly ajar. When they pushed open the door, one of the neighbors said, they saw that the house was in disarray and called police.

Mellem said police found Evans’ nude body lying in bed. He said the bedroom had been ransacked and clothing strewn about the kitchen and hallway.

Mellem added, however, that “some items most burglars would take were still there,” clouding the establishment of a motive.

Mellem also said he had asked employees at Pomona First Federal to seal off Evans’ office because “there might be clues in there.” A bank security officer confirmed that the office had been sealed but would not discuss the matter further.

Kenneth Candless, who lives a few doors from Evans’ house on High Point Drive and called police after he noticed the open door, said Evans was divorced a few years ago and lived alone.