Long Beach Man Jailed in Death of His Landlord
A Long Beach man was arrested on suspicion of killing his 79-year-old landlord and dumping his body in an Irvine field, police said Saturday.
James Doherty, 54, who was being evicted from an apartment he rented in the 6100 block of Linden Avenue, was arrested by Long Beach police Friday afternoon as he stood at 56th Street and Atlantic Avenue, said Nancy Pratt, a police spokeswoman.
According to police, Kaj Hansen, who owns the complex, went to change the locks on Doherty’s apartment about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
When Hansen didn’t return, his wife knocked on Doherty’s door.
No one answered and she found a bloody trail leading to an alleyway, Pratt said.
Hansen’s body was found Friday in a field along Sand Canyon Avenue off the Santa Ana Freeway.
He had been stabbed and beaten, Pratt said.
Doherty was being held at Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of murder, Pratt said.
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