Suspect Held in Painter’s Slaying

A parolee with a violent criminal history has been arrested in connection with Beverly Hills’ first homicide in four years, police said Friday.

Detectives said they remained stumped, however, over what prompted the Dec. 14 slaying at a Wilshire Boulevard parking garage.

Nathan Hall, 50, of Los Angeles was being held without bail on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in the stabbing attack on two painting contractors who were part of a crew refurbishing the garage.

“The motive is unknown,” Beverly Hills Police Capt. Robert P. Curtis said Friday, hours after officers found Hall hiding in the attic of his home near USC. “It appeared the attack was unprovoked.”

The assailant drove into the parking garage in the 9300 block of Wilshire Boulevard, pulled a knife and began stabbing painter Helmut Mende, 71, according to police.

Jurgen Hapke, 65, Mende’s painting business partner of more than 40 years, tried to intervene but was fatally stabbed. The attacker then got into his car without a word and drove off, police said.

Mende is expected to recover.

Curtis said Hall has an extensive criminal history that includes very violent behavior.

At the time of his arrest, Hall was also wanted on a parole violation warrant. Authorities declined to say what led them to consider Hall as a suspect in the slaying or to disclose details of his criminal past.

Having obtained an arrest warrant, police went to Hall’s residence near 39th Street and Budlong Avenue on Thursday night.

Relatives there insisted he wasn’t home, Curtis said, but police forced their way inside and found Hall in the attic, concealed under a mattress and loose insulation.

After initially refusing to come out, he surrendered to the police officers.

Beverly Hills Police Chief David L. Snowden said the case will be submitted Tuesday to the district attorney’s office for possible charges.