Death penalty sought in execution-style double murder

The Orange County district attorney’s office said Monday it was seeking the death penalty for a Garden Grove man charged in the execution-style slaying of two people so he could steal a car.

Hilbert Pineil Thomas, 39, is charged in the February 2009 killings of Matthew Francis Scott and Fountain Valley resident Elizabeth Ann Palmer. Both were shot in the head, prosecutors said.

Thomas wanted to steal Palmer’s car and walked into Golden Sun Homes, a Stanton business, according to prosecutors. Thomas allegedly fled with Palmer’s Lexus sedan.

In a statement, Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said the decision to seek the death penalty was based on factors including the gravity of the crime, the motivation for the crime and the background of the victims.

From latimes.com