Younger of Two Women Attacked Dies

Angela M. King, 34, who directed traffic for nine years as a civilian in the Anaheim Police Department, died Sunday from injuries she suffered a day earlier in a vicious and fiery attack in her Anaheim apartment.

King’s 70-year-old neighbor, who lives two doors down, was also assaulted and her two-bedroom apartment set on fire. Although some had feared the older woman wouldn’t survive, officials at UCI Medical Center in Orange said Sunday that her condition had improved.

Citing concerns for the older woman’s safety, Anaheim police declined to release her name. Hospital nursing supervisor Jean Necas said the woman was “awake and alert,” listed in serious condition.

Police refused to release any information about the nature of the women’s injuries.

Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez would only say, “Both females were the victims of a violent assault.”

Both women apparently lived alone in the four-unit building at 123 N. East St., a busy block dominated by multistory apartment complexes, pine trees and the Zion Lutheran Church.

Authorities said they are not sure who was attacked first. Nor do they know whether the assailant knew one or both women, or whether the older woman heard something suspicious, went to investigate and was in turn attacked.

King had just completed a shift directing traffic at Arrowhead Pond for the Mighty Ducks’ season-opening hockey game, officials said. Firefighters discovered King inside her apartment when they arrived shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday to find smoke billowing from the building. King was still wearing her Anaheim police vest and uniform.

The two apartments, mostly smoke-damaged, were separated by a unit that did not burn. Anaheim detectives and forensic specialists continued to comb through the two apartments Sunday.

King’s family members, who live on the East Coast, flew in late Saturday or early Sunday. King was taken off life support and died about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Martinez said.

King directed traffic part time at sporting events at the Pond and Edison Field, as well as the scenes of car accidents and police investigations.

“We are proud of Angela, her service and her accomplishments,” Martinez said on behalf of the department.

Another Anaheim city worker, who didn’t want his name published, said, “She was a nice, pleasant young lady with a great sense of humor and a wonderful personality.”