Elderly Couple Beaten, Stabbed to Death in Home

An elderly couple were found beaten and stabbed to death Thursday night in their spacious two-story home in an unincorporated area just west of Canoga Park, Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives said Friday.

The bodies of Marvin Spitz, 70, and his wife, Myrtle, 68, were found about 8:40 p.m. in their house in the 24600 block of Kittridge Street, deputies said.

The couple probably had been dead about two days, Lt. Charles Elliott said.

There were no signs of ransacking, burglary, robbery or forced entry, and detectives have not established a motive for the slayings, Elliott said.

Children Called Deputies

Deputies were called to the home Thursday night by the couple’s son, who became concerned when he and a sister were unable to reach their parents on the telephone. Deputies broke into the home and found Marvin Spitz’s body in the living room. His wife’s body was in the kitchen, Elliott said.

Mrs. Spitz was last seen about 2 p.m. Tuesday by a neighbor, Elliott said.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, described the Spitzes as “very lovely people, friendly, nice people. They always had a smile, always had a hello for you,” she said.

Friends and police said the couple were retired from the real estate business and had four grown children. They were active in their neighborhood association and in a Neighborhood Watch group.

“They were very sensitive, life-oriented people who had a very strong sense of optimism about things,” said Rabbi Bernard Cohen of Temple Solael, where the Spitzes regularly attended services.

Cohen said the temple was planning a special service honoring the Spitzes Friday night.