Burglary Suspect Stabbed to Death Inside Apartment

An Anaheim man fatally stabbed a suspected burglar with a kitchen knife Monday morning when he awoke to find the intruder rifling his pants pockets, police said.

Adolfo Garcia, 32, of Anaheim died of multiple stab wounds in the courtyard of the apartment building at 1130 S. Lemon St., police said.

Police said Michael Allen Nesbitt, 36, killed Garcia in apparent self-defense. Nesbitt was not arrested, but Sgt. Chet Barry said an “investigation into this matter will be continuing.”

The apartment manager, Betty Toro, said Nesbitt told her he had been asleep on his couch in the living room about 3:45 a.m. when he felt somebody going through his pockets.

“He said he was so scared and that it was sheer guts that pulled him through this,” Toro said. “He doesn’t even remember how he got the knife or stabbing the guy.”

Nesbitt was taken to the police station for questioning and later released.

Police offered few details, saying only that Nesbitt “awoke to find (Garcia) burglarizing the apartment.”

In a prepared statement, Barry said Nesbitt confronted Garcia and a fight began. “Nesbitt picked up a kitchen knife and was able to stab the suspect.”

Garcia fled the second-floor apartment and collapsed in the courtyard, Barry added.

“It must have been quite a struggle . . . there was a lot blood on the dining room floor,” said Toro, the apartment manager. She said that Nesbitt, a carpenter, managed to push Garcia out of the apartment once, but that Garcia forced himself back in. Nesbitt “said he was fighting for his life,” Toro said.

Nesbitt finally pushed Garcia down the stairs, she said.

“It was a real sad thing,” Toro said. “He was so overcome with what he did. . . . He’s a beautiful person, a caring person. Not the type of man to start a quarrel.”