Last Suspect in Fatal New Year Robbery Caught

Sheriff’s deputies serving a routine traffic warrant on a Ventura woman Friday discovered the third suspect in a New Year’s Day robbery that left one man dead and several Ojai party guests injured.

Timothy Antonelli, 24, and his girlfriend, Lori Halpin, 19, were arrested at Halpin’s residence in the Ventura Avenue area about 11 a.m., said Lt. Joe Harwell of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

The Sheriff’s Department and other area police agencies had been searching for Antonelli for more than a week before members of the department’s warrant bureau discovered him hiding in Halpin’s bedroom, Harwell said. Halpin had told detectives last week that she had not seen Antonelli, Harwell said.

The deputies served the warrant on Halpin at her McFarlane Drive residence after she failed to appear in court for a traffic ticket, Harwell said. When they accompanied Halpin to her bedroom while she collected her belongings, they discovered Antonelli.

“It was just a matter of our paths crossing,” the lieutenant said.

Although Antonelli refused to respond to detectives’ questions Friday, authorities believe he helped arrange the robbery in the 700 block of Park Road after he was invited there as a party guest, Harwell said.

When Antonelli arrived at the party about 6:30 a.m. New Year’s Day, two armed intruders in ski masks burst into the house after him, Harwell said. Antonelli apparently was unarmed, and when the armed men ordered the guests to lie down, he also stretched out on the floor, Harwell said.

Authorities would not say why they think Antonelli was part of the robbery plan, but Harwell said the arrest concludes the department’s search for suspects.

The first suspect, Ron Brown, 22, of Ventura died of two gunshot wounds to the abdomen Jan. 1. The death occurred after a few party-goers struggled with the intruders and in the ensuing confusion shots were fired.

Frank Stoddard, 28, of Ventura was arrested Jan. 2. He has been recovering at Ventura County Medical Center from a gunshot wound to the groin, said Sgt. Ken Warren of the Sheriff’s Department. Stoddard, who has been listed in fair condition, cannot be transferred to the jail until his condition can be maintained by the jail’s infirmary staff, Warren said.

The three party guests who were hospitalized for injuries, including gunshot wounds and a bite wound, have all been released.

Antonelli was being held Friday evening in the Ventura County Jail on suspicion of robbery and failing to appear on traffic violations. Bail has been set at $251,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Warren said.

Halpin was being held on suspicion of harboring a felon and failing to appear on a traffic violation.