Photos of Car Possibly Related to Scam Released

Los Angeles police detectives released three photos of a silver Mercury Sable they believe is connected to the hit-and-run killing of a homeless man as part of an insurance scam.

Two women in their 70s were indicted this week for allegedly taking out life insurance policies on the man and another transient, both of whom died in mysterious hit-and-run accidents.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help in solving the June 21, 2005, killing. They want to know where the 1999 station wagon was before the incident and who owns it.

Police are investigating Helen Golay of Santa Monica and Olga Rutterschmidt of Hollywood in connection with the killings of Kenneth McDavid last June and Paul Vados in 1999.

“The detectives believe the car may be linked to the death of Kenneth McDavid in 2005,” said Lt. Paul Vernon of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Detectives found records that showed the car was towed from a Chevron station not far from where McDavid’s body was found about an hour later in a nearby alley.”

While neither woman owned the Mercury, Golay called the Automobile Club of Southern California for a tow on a 1999 Mercury station wagon.

Authorities would never have found the car if not for a Post-it note in Golay’s day planner recently seized by police revealing the name the vehicle was registered in last year and a partial vehicle identification number.

McDavid was found with traumatic injuries to his upper body and visible tire marks. Vados died in a similar incident after being insured by the women.

A federal grand jury indicted the pair Tuesday on nine charges, including mail fraud and aiding and abetting a crime in connection with life insurance statements.