VAN NUYS : Man Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Mother-in-Law

A 65-year-old Pasadena man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the charge that he strangled his mother-in-law nearly 23 years ago.

Harland Omer Gallion was arrested Tuesday in the killing of Catherine Marion Halgren, who was found dead in her North Hollywood house by her daughter Ramona, Gallion’s wife, in September, 1972.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bob Cohen said that Gallion was a suspect at the time, but that the original police detectives, now dead, could not tie him to the murder scene. Cohen said Gallion had provided an alibi--that he was at a bar with his brother.

“I believe we have the evidence to show that, although he was at a bar, he left long enough to take care of business,” Cohen said.

Authorities declined to reveal details of the case. Cohen said the discovery of “a major piece of evidence” led to Gallion’s arrest. Police located a retired LAPD officer and retired coroner’s investigator who helped them identify new pieces of evidence, Cohen said, and a warrant for Gallion’s arrest was issued late Monday.

Gallion divorced Ramona Halgren “when they finally spent all the money” she had received from her mother’s life insurance policy, Cohen said.

Gallion was being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 31. At his arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court, his public defender requested that he be examined by a jail physician.

Today, California law includes capital punishment for murder. But 1972 law, which governs Gallion’s case, calls for a maximum penalty of life in prison with the potential for parole, Cohen said.

“A murder case is never just forgotten about,” said Cohen, who joined the district attorney’s office the year of the slaying. “I’m just glad that we’re finally able to go forward, and maybe Ms. Halgren will be able to rest in peace.”