3 Men Arrested in Beating Death of Woman
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LONG BEACH — Homicide investigators have arrested three men in connection with the beating death of a woman whose naked body was found alongside the San Diego Freeway, police said Thursday.
Officers arrested Warren Justin Hardy, 22, and Jamelle Edward Armstrong, 18, during predawn raids Thursday in Los Angeles and Long Beach, said Long Beach police spokeswoman Karen Owens. A third suspect, Kevin Darnell Pearson, 21, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Long Beach, she said.
All three were arrested on suspicion of murder and denied bail.
Caltrans workers discovered the body of Penny Keprta, 43, of Long Beach last week as they were clearing debris from around the freeway near the Wardlow Road overpass. Keprta had been beaten on the head and neck, coroner’s officials said.
“We believe that we have all the persons responsible for this,” Owens said.
Owens said Keprta was possibly abducted near where her body was dumped as she walked to a convenience store between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Dec. 31. Robbery is suspected as a motive.
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