Sons Jailed in ‘Ninja’ Killing of Parents

Two sons of a Brentwood couple shot to death in September were arrested today along with two other men in what Los Angeles police said was a murder-for-hire plot by the brothers to kill their parents and collect on a $500,000 insurance policy.

Police Chief Daryl F. Gates said the brothers may have arranged the executions of their parents, Gerald and Vera Woodman, to subsidize their failing plastics firm in the San Fernando Valley and to support their high-rolling life styles.

Arrested were Neil Woodman, 42, and his brother, Stewart, 41. Also taken into custody were Steven and Robert Homick, brothers whom the Woodmans allegedly hired to kill their parents. Robert Homick, 35, is a West Los Angeles attorney; Steven Homick, 45, is a carpenter living in Reseda.

A fifth suspect, Michael Dominguez, 27, is already in custody in Las Vegas in an unrelated case. All five are expected to be arraigned on murder charges, Gates said.

The Homicks and Dominguez are suspected of gunning down Gerald and Vera Woodman Sept. 25 in the underground garage of their condominium as they returned from a post-Yom Kippur dinner.

Police today discounted witness reports that two men were seen running from the garage dressed in black, martial-arts style clothing like that worn by Japanese Ninja warriors.