Temple City : Son Held in Death of Father
A 22-year-old man has been charged in the Jan. 14 slaying of his father, whose body was found in a Temple City park.
Augustine Dass, arrested in Monrovia, pleaded not guilty last week in the death of Ramesh Dass, 57, of Temple City, a Coca-Cola Bottling Co. employee and a volunteer pastor at the Church of India in La Canada Flintridge.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Patterson said investigators believe Augustine Dass strangled his father during an argument over education and money. Ramesh Dass’ body was found in his wife’s van at Pioneer Park.
Investigators at first thought robbery was a motive because Ramesh Dass’ wallet had been stolen. The son became a suspect after he attended the funeral and disappeared in his father’s Oldsmobile.
The younger Dass was living in the car until Monrovia police arrested him Jan. 20. He faces a preliminary hearing March 9 in Rio Hondo Municipal Court in El Monte.
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