Fountain Valley : Council Raises Reward in Shopkeeper’s Slaying

The City Council has increased to $10,000 a reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the 1985 slaying of a woman who was shot in the doughnut shop she managed.

Virgie Ellie LaFountain was shot in the chest Jan. 22, 1985, at the Yum Yum Donut Shop on Brookhurst Street, according to police. Her body was found about 2:30 p.m. near the cash register, which was open and contained only change.

Immediately after the killing, Yum Yum Donut Shops Inc. offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Last month, the council decided to match that amount. Council member Ben Nielsen proposed increasing the reward, and the council was unanimous in its support.

Detective Dwaine Cheshire said that witnesses gave police a description of the assailant and his van, but detectives have reported no progress in the case. Police arrived within a minute of the shooting, Cheshire said, adding:

“We’re not closing the case. We’re hoping that this (the greater reward) will revive things and get things going. Maybe it will bring someone out and jar some memories.”