Police Probe Links in 2 Deaths

Homicide detectives are investigating parallels between the mysterious shooting death Tuesday of a Simi Valley man and the equally baffling slaying of his father in August at the family business in Lancaster.

Investigators refused to say Wednesday whether they have positively linked the killings of Michael Budfuloski, 31, and William Budfuloski, 53. They kept a tight lid on details of the cases.

No arrests had been made and no suspects had been named by Wednesday evening, according to authorities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Simi Valley Police Sgt. Joe May said similarities between the two deaths could be coincidental.

Both men died of multiple gunshot wounds with no known eyewitnesses and in locations familiar to them. Authorities said robbery did not appear to be a motive in either instance.

Michael Budfuloski’s wife found his bullet-riddled body inside the front door of their home in the 1300 block of Rio Vista Court after waking up about 5 a.m., said Lt. Greg Riegert.

Half an hour earlier, a neighbor on the five-home cul-de-sac had called police to report that two men were fighting in the street. Responding officers found no one at the scene and left after finding no evidence of a crime, Riegert said.

May described the homicide scene as a large, attractive house in an upscale neighborhood. The victim worked nights and usually returned home about 4:30 a.m.

Since Aug. 11, Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives have been investigating the death of William Budfuloski, owner of Budco Fabrication in the 2200 block of East Avenue I in Lancaster.

No motive was immediately determined.

Employees arriving for work that Monday morning found the elder Budfuloski’s wounded body in the parking lot. He was last seen when the business closed the previous Friday.

He was a former resident of Simi Valley, sheriff’s deputies said.