Alhambra : Death Penalty Affirmed
The state Supreme Court has affirmed the death penalty for an Alhambra man who was convicted of murdering a woman in a Bassett church parking lot seven years ago.
The high court last week voted 6 to 0 to affirm the death sentence for Michael Wader, 47, handed down by Pomona Superior Court Judge James Platt.
On Nov. 15, 1984, Maxine W. Brown, 62, of Alhambra was grabbed by Wader as she got into her car at a local beauty parlor. Wader made her drive around North Hollywood and the San Gabriel Valley, forcing her to attempt to withdraw cash at various banks with her automated-teller card.
Out of frustration that he could not get any money because the card had expired, Wader drove Brown’s car to the First Baptist Church in Bassett where he shot her several times.
Wader told sheriff’s deputies that he thought she was lying about the card. During the trial, he claimed that he did not mean to kill her and “just fired at random.”
Wader was previously convicted of kidnaping and raping a 14-year-old girl.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
