Man Charged in Killings of Parents in Mission Viejo
Murder charges were filed Monday against a man suspected of bludgeoning his parents to death last week at their Mission Viejo home.
Richard Eugene Mingus, 34, was being held without bail at the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana on two counts of murder with a special circumstance for multiple deaths. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Feb. 28, 2001 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday February 28, 2001 Orange County Edition Metro Part B Page 3 Metro Desk 1 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Crime--A story Tuesday misstated charges by the district attorney’s office regarding a man accused of killing his parents in Mission Viejo. Richard Mingus is eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have not yet decided what punishment to seek.
Ray and Pauline Mingus, ages 69 and 74, were found dead Thursday inside their Matias Drive home after concerned members of their church called police to say they had not seen the couple for several days.
Richard Mingus, a resident of San Diego, was staying with his parents temporarily. Police found him Friday in the lobby of a La Jolla hospital and arrested him.
His arraignment is set for March 16.
According to court records, he was jailed after pleading guilty in 1992 to robbing his father and holding his mother captive.
Mingus also was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in San Bernardino in March 1987. He was imprisoned and paroled, according to state corrections records.
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