2 Intruders Beat, Kill Woman, Hurt Son in Clairemont Home

A 64-year-old woman was found Tuesday, bound, gagged and beaten to death in her Clairemont home by two assailants who also attacked her son and stole both their cars, police said.

Police spokesman Dave Cohen said William Barr, 27, was found in front of his garage in the 4900 block of Diane Court bound with electric cord and gagged with duct tape. Two neighbors heard his muffled cries for help and called authorities about 3:30 a.m.

Barr was in serious condition with head injuries Tuesday at Sharp Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

“Usually, burglars don’t want to come in contact with anyone, but you just don’t know,” Cohen said. “He got beaten up pretty good.”

Barr’s mother, Sung Yee Barr, was found in a back bedroom, apparently beaten to death, police said.

William Barr, who had been sleeping when the attackers broke into his home, told police he was struck in the head, possibly with a baseball bat. His assailants also attempted to smother him with a pillow. A window in a door in the garage was broken, and it appeared that the thieves had reached through it to unlock the door, Cohen said.

The burglars stole two cars from the home, a 1987 blue or green Honda Civic with California license plates WMWEB, and a 1985 red or maroon Mercury Merkur with license plates 1POZ290, police said.

Burglary was apparently the motive for the beatings, and police believe some computer equipment may also be missing, Sgt. Ray Sigwalt said.