Police Say Papers at Scene of Reporter’s Killing Led to Arrest

Papers left at the scene of a newspaper reporter’s slaying and an attack on his wife provided the initial clues that cast suspicion on a Santee man, El Cajon police reported Tuesday.

David Alan Weeding, 39, of the 9500 block of Mission Gorge Road, was arrested in the parking lot of a bar at Carlton Hills Boulevard and Mission Gorge Road in Santee shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, El Cajon Police Sgt. Ed Forbes said. Weeding, the owner of a radiator shop, was taken into custody on suspicion of killing Steve Petix, a Californian reporter, and assault with intent to commit rape on Petix’s wife, Vickie, 23.

Weeding is being held without bail in County Jail downtown and will be arraigned at 1 p.m. today in El Cajon, Forbes said.

Saw His Wife Being Attacked

Petix was stabbed to death when he arrived home for lunch Friday and found a man attacking his wife.

“It was the writing on the papers that gave us a good idea of what direction to go--where to look,” Forbes said. “They suggested that we look at car radiator repair shops.”

On Saturday morning, El Cajon police investigators started searching all car radiator repair shops in El Cajon, Santee and Spring Valley. About 2 p.m. Monday, two investigators approached Weeding at his car-radiator repair shop in Santee, Forbes said.

“The investigators walked up to him and handed him a composite drawing, which resembled him,” Forbes said. “They looked at him and then at the composite, and got suspicious. Looking around, they noticed a 1972 Lincoln that had been freshly painted with beige spray paint.”

Set Up Surveillance on Weeding

At that time, Forbes said, the investigators left and set up surveillance on Weeding and his car. Police located a photograph of Weeding and enlarged it for a photo lineup, where witnesses identified him, Forbes said.

“That gave us enough evidence to pick him up,” he said.

John Bailey, manager of the Mission Villa Apartments where Weeding lived, said Weeding had moved in there about 18 months ago with his parents. His father, Hans Weeding, died in December, Bailey said, and David Weeding took over his business, now called Weeding Radiator Repair.

“It was a big shock to everyone who lived here,” Bailey said. “He was a very good tenant. He never bothered anybody--just minded his own business.”

Vickie Petix told police that her husband called to say he would be home for lunch about 1 p.m. She heard a knock at the door and, when she opened it, was confronted by a man who said he was there to make some repairs, Forbes said.

She told police that, after letting the man in, he grabbed her and, holding a knife, attempted to tear off her clothes and rape her.

Petix Jumped on Wife’s Assailant

At that time, Petix came home and jumped on the man in an attempt to rescue his wife. She got away and ran to another apartment to call police. When El Cajon police arrived, they found Petix on the floor of the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Petix started in 1982 as a full-time reporter at the Californian in El Cajon, worked his way up to education writer and held the title of senior writer.

“He was a very likable person,” Dale Hood, Californian associate editor said. “I remember when he started here as a sports stringer. He was always a pleasure to be around. His death is a big loss for us--he was well-known in the community and well-respected.”