Man Sentenced in His Mother’s Murder

Ignoring pleas from relatives to divulge where he hid his mother’s body, a Costa Mesa man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday for the 1993 murder of Myra King.

Raymond Anthony Frost, 24, stared impassively at his great-uncle, James K. King, who spoke for the family during the sentencing hearing.

“I’d like to ask the defendant if he can find it in his heart to let us know where Myra is, so we can give her a proper burial,” King said.

Frost appeared about to speak when he was quieted by his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jim Appel.

Earlier in the hearing, Appel asked Judge John J. Ryan to set aside the second-degree murder conviction, contending there was insufficient evidence to prove what happened the night of July 19, 1993.

Ryan denied the motion, letting the conviction stand. Appel said Frost will appeal.

Neighbors testified they heard a long commotion from the Costa Mesa apartment that Frost and his mother shared the night before co-workers reported her missing. They also heard a woman calling for help, then a man’s voice asking, “Oh my God, what have I done?”

King, 44, was never seen again. Her son, arrested 2 1/2 years later, was convicted in January, in only the fourth murder case in Orange County history without a corpse as evidence.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Lloyd said she thinks Frost will not, and should not, have a chance at parole until he reveals what he did with his mother.

“The family, they’ll continue to suffer until they find that out,” Lloyd said. “I don’t think they’ll get the closure most families will get.”

James King said he doesn’t expect his great-nephew will ever grant his family that peace.

“If I had to bet on it, I’d say no. But if I prayed on it, I’d say yes,” James King said. “I would hope in my heart he would find it in his heart.”