Partner of Wounded CEO Kills Himself

A top Irvine drug company executive committed suicide Thursday, a day after police searched his home in connection with the assassination attempt this week on his longtime business partner.

The death of Dr. Larry C. Ford deepens the mystery surrounding Biofem Inc., whose chief executive was shot in the face by a masked gunman in what police described as an elaborate conspiracy motivated by financial gain.

Before his suicide, Ford met with his lawyer for nearly five hours and expressed fear that police would soon arrest him, said the attorney, Stephen Klarich.

“He didn’t want to see his family go through the trials and tribulations of a trial and the media circus, even if he was innocent,” Klarich said.

Detectives stressed that Ford, 49, was not about to be arrested but that they were trying to determine if he had played a role in the shooting of Biofem Chief Executive James Patrick Riley.

“We were looking at him obviously because he’s a business partner. But we would look at other people involved in the business as well,” said Irvine police Lt. Sam Allevato. “We wanted to interview him.”

Police said Ford remained a possible suspect in the unfolding case and that they were zeroing in on his relationship with Los Angeles businessman Dino D’Saachs, who was charged this week with attempted murder.

Klarich said that Ford had treated D’Saachs for an undisclosed medical condition but was shocked to hear of his arrest.

Police discovered evidence “germane to the case” during a four-hour search of Ford’s home Wednesday morning but declined to say what they found.

Allevato said police are close to arresting two other suspects in the Riley shooting. He said police have informed several other people that they face “possible danger” until all assailants are in custody.

Prosecutors Say 3 Were Involved in the Scheme

The mystery began Monday morning when Riley’s assailant, dressed in black and wearing gloves and a ski mask, fired a single round from a small-caliber semi-automatic weapon as the executive arrived at work.

Prosecutors allege in court documents that three people were involved in the scheme.

They charged that D’Saachs, 56, drove the gunman to and from the scene of the shooting, while a third person masterminded the operation.

Detectives searching D’Saachs’ home found an instructional manual on executing a successful hit, along with photographs of Riley, his home and his business, prosecutors said.

Ford had maintained through his attorney that he had nothing to do with the attempt on Riley’s life and that the police inquiries were strictly routine.

Riley, 58, and Ford were doing well financially, and there was no motive to end that success, Klarich said.

“The relationship with Riley was a thriving relationship,” he said. “Businesswise, they were doing exceptionally well.”

Klarich and Ford had a lengthy meeting hours before the suicide to discuss legal strategy.

“He was upset that they searched his home and was afraid they would arrest him and he was going to jail,” the attorney said. “Eight months later when he’s exonerated, how would he get that time back?”

Still, Klarich said Ford seemed to be coping with the problems when the meeting ended.

“He seemed to be doing OK when he left,” Klarich added. “No more than 15 minutes later, I got the call.”

Police said that after the meeting, Ford returned home with his wife and some friends, went upstairs alone and shot himself in a bedroom.

“He walked upstairs; she hears a shot,” Allevato said.

Riley and Ford were partners for more than a decade. Each provided the privately held pharmaceutical development firm with different skills, co-workers and others said.

Biofem attorney Raymond A. Lee described the business relationship between Riley and Ford as an equal partnership.

“Patrick was the marketing, CEO, business guy, and Larry has always been the scientist,” he said. “They’ve always seemed to work together and work very well.”

Lee said he had spoken to Riley Thursday morning. Riley “seemed to be in good health and pretty much in shock as well,” Lee said.

“He didn’t understand what had happened beyond what he’s read in the papers, and he didn’t know why.”

Lee described Biofem as a promising business that had just received financing from a private investment fund in Connecticut.

“It’s well-funded, well-heeled and the science is good,” he said. “That’s why this all comes as a great shock to me.”

Quiet Neighborhood Jolted by Sirens

According to company officials, Biofem scientists were close to finishing research on two innovative products: a chemical suppository designed to protect women from venereal disease and a bacterial treatment that would protect against certain stomach upsets.

Neighbors and friends described Ford as a caring family man and a skilled scientist known for helping people.

“He was a loving father and a wonderful man,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be identified. “He helped a lot of people.”

Few neighbors noticed anything amiss in Ford’s normally tranquil Irvine neighborhood until sirens were heard about 2:30 p.m.

Suddenly, a woman emerged from Ford’s home and ran screaming down the driveway, according to one neighbor. More than a dozen police cruisers quickly appeared, and officers dashed up the driveway, guns drawn, as the woman ran toward them.

“Her face was white. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost,” said Doug Koeller, 17. “She screamed at us to get into the house. She looked pretty bad. She was very frantic.”

Times staff writers Marc Ballon and Karen Alexander and librarian Sheila A. Kern contributed to this report.