LOCAL : Suicide Linked to ‘Night Stalker’ Juror’s Slaying; Panel Sent Home

The suicide of a man was linked today to the murder of a “Night Stalker” juror whose death by shooting in an apparent domestic dispute prompted a judge to send the shaken panel home earlier today.

Juror Phyllis Singletary was found shot to death Monday in her home, and her live-in boyfriend James Cecil Melton was sought, authorities said.

Deputy Kathryn Nielsen said the body of a man was found today in a Comfort Inn in suburban Carson, and homicide investigators “were linking the suicide with the murder of ‘Night Stalker’ juror Phyllis Singletary.”

The body was not immediately identified and no details were released.

At the Criminal Courts building earlier in the day, jurors in the case were sent home after a brief session.

“I think there is a tear in the eyes of a lot of us,” Superior Court Judge Michael Tynan said in a near whisper as he dismissed the panel deliberating the fate of Richard Ramirez.

He told the panelists, some of whom had obviously heard of the killing before coming to court, that the fatal shooting of Ms. Singletary apparently “had nothing to do with this case.”

The judge selected a women alternate to replace Singletary.