Two Men Arrested in Slaying of Woman Found Bludgeoned in Orange Townhouse

Authorities have arrested two men on suspicion of bludgeoning a 28-year-old woman to death in her townhouse, Orange Police Department spokesman Bob Gustafson said Wednesday.

The woman, Patricia Ann Clayton, was found in her townhouse at 3642 W. Park Central Ave. in Orange by her father, Earl E. Clayton, Tuesday afternoon, Gustafson said.

Clayton had gone to check on his daughter after he received a call from Orange County sheriff’s deputies who said they had apprehended two men driving Patricia Clayton’s car. The men seemed “suspicious” and tried to flee when authorities stopped to question them, said Lt. Richard J. Olson of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

2 Suspects Booked

Daniel Leroy Hikes, 24, of Anaheim and Duke Kimberly Bolter, 32, of Santa Ana were arrested and booked into Orange County Jail without bail on suspicion of murder, delaying and obstructing a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon, Gustafson said.

The dangerous weapon, found in Clayton’s car, was a set of brass knuckles with a folding knife blade attached, Olson said. Orange police have not yet determined if the weapon was used to kill Clayton, who died of head injuries, Gustafson said.

Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Colver spotted Hikes and Bolter about noon Tuesday in front of a liquor store in Mission Viejo and “felt there was something suspicious about the two guys,” Olson said. “One goes into the liquor store; the other stands outside. . . . It just piqued his curiosity.”

As Colver pulled into the parking lot of the liquor store, on Crown Valley Parkway near Puerta Real, he recognized Hikes and Bolter as former inmates at Orange County Jail, Olson said. When he got out of the car to question them, the two men fled in opposite directions.

Colver radioed for help, and the two men were soon found and taken to the Sheriff’s Department Crown Valley substation, Olson said. Deputies tried to call Patrica Clayton, the registered owner of the car--a 1981 Mazda RX-7--but got no answer, so they called her father, who said he knew neither Bolter nor Hikes.

About 4:30 p.m., Clayton went to his daughter’s residence and found her dead.

Unemployed Receptionist

Clayton was an unemployed receptionist “who’s held a million different jobs,” Gustafson said. Family members contacted at the home of Clayton’s parents in Santa Ana declined to comment.

Carole Ambler, a neighbor of Earl Clayton for nearly 30 years, said she knew Patricia Clayton as a child but had lost contact with her after she moved away. “Patricia hasn’t lived at home for a long time,” Ambler said. “She’s from a very loving family.”

Authorities believe the killing occurred Monday or Tuesday morning. The victim was acquainted with Hikes and Bolter, but investigators were not sure how well she knew them, Gustafson said. Witnesses had seen her with both men recently in her neighborhood, he said.

“We don’t think it’s a jealous boyfriend, but we want to make sure, get our ducks in a row,” Gustafson said.

There was no apparent motive for the killing, he said. Clayton’s home was intact and valuable items had not been taken.

Hikes and Bolter both have long criminal records, authorities said. Hikes was most recently arrested Feb. 5 in Garden Grove on a felony hit-and-run charge. Before that, he had served time in state prisons and county jails for receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana for sale, using heroin and trying to cash stolen traveler’s checks.

Bolter has been convicted of robbery, illegal use of firearms, assault with a deadly weapon, bank robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patricia Clayton also had served time in jail. She was convicted twice--once in 1985 and once in 1986--for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, Department of Motor Vehicle records showed.