LAGUNA HILLS : Slain Executive’s Parents Offer Reward

The parents of a 54-year-old insurance executive who was shot to death under mysterious circumstances in 1991 are offering a $20,000 reward for information that would solve the crime, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

Dirk Houston was found shot to death on Dec. 22, 1991, in the offices of his Laguna Hills insurance firm, St. Clair & Associates, located in a business park on La Cadena Drive near Moulton Parkway and Lake Forest Drive.

Sheriff’s officials said Houston had dined with his wife, then left for the office, telling her that he would be working late. Later that evening, when Houston failed to return home, his wife tried several times to reach him by telephone. Houston’s 23-year-old son eventually went to the office, where he found his father’s body on the floor inside. He had died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Olson said Houston’s parents are now offering the reward to anyone who can “supply the necessary information that would lead to the identity, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Mr. Houston’s death.”

A trust fund for the reward money has been set up at a Wells Fargo Bank in Montrose in Los Angeles County, Olson said.

Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff’s investigator Bob Blackburn at (714) 647-7048 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or the Sheriff’s Department watch commander at (714) 834-6490. Those calling the department about the case are asked to refer to case number 91-62163.