LOS ANGELES : $25,000 Reward Posted in Slaying of Pastor, 81
The Los Angeles City Council posted a $25,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the arrest of suspects in the recent murder of an 81-year-old minister and grandmother at her Mid-City apartment.
Los Angeles Police Department officials asked the council to offer the reward to aid their investigation into the death of Blanche Thomas, who was bound, gagged and sexually assaulted.
Detectives said they had run out of leads without identifying a suspect.
“They believe there is information out in the community that could corroborate some of their information and lead to a suspect,” Deputy City Atty. Gail Weingart said.
As pastor of the small Mt. Zion Churches United parish in the Mid-City area, Thomas worked to comfort the elderly, ease the plight of the homeless and curb the spread of illicit drugs.
Police say that someone entered Thomas’ apartment in the 1700 block of South La Brea Avenue on July 25 between midnight and dawn. Some items were stolen, but police believe that the intruder was more intent on violence than on theft.
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