Tarzana Man Solicited Daughter’s Death, Inmate Says

A Tarzana man offered to pay a fellow inmate $20,000 to kill his daughter and make it appear that her attorney did it, the inmate testified Thursday.

At the time of the alleged offer, Robert Peernock, 50, was awaiting trial on charges that he killed his wife and tried to kill the daughter.

San Fernando Municipal Judge Malcolm H. Mackey, at the conclusion of Thursday’s hearing, ordered Peernock to stand trial on one count of soliciting the death of Natasha Peernock Sims, 18. Peernock had been ordered Dec. 23 to stand trial on charges of murder, attempted murder, arson and kidnaping.

Peernock was arrested Sept. 4 after the body of his estranged wife, Claire Laurence Peernock, 45, and his oldest daughter, Sims, were found July 22 in Peernock’s car at 4:30 a.m. in Sun Valley. The auto had been doused with gasoline and had struck a utility pole in what police said was a staged accident.

An autopsy determined that Claire Peernock died from head wounds that were inconsistent with injuries that could have been suffered in a traffic accident.

The inmate, who was not identified, testified that Peernock wanted Sims killed because she was the only witness against him in the death of his wife. The inmate testified that he was asked by Peernock to make it appear that Sims’ attorney, Victoria W. Doom, was responsible for Sims’ death.

The inmate, who has been sentenced to state prison on two counts of child molestation, testified that Peernock asked him to kill both Doom and Sims but later changed his mind and limited the death order to Sims.

The inmate testified that he told jail authorities of the murder-solicitation because he was sickened to learn that Sims was Peernock’s daughter.

Peernock’s attorney, Darold M. Shirwo, said the inmate was a part of a group of “snitches” recruited by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Shirwo said the man had fabricated the story at the request of deputies.

Sims testified Dec. 22 that Peernock had force-fed her alcohol and a white pill, slipped a black hood over her head and tied her up before the accident. She testified that he said he was going to kill her and her mother if they refused to sign some legal papers.

Peernock is being held in County Jail without bail. A pretrial hearing for both cases was scheduled for April 21.