Murder Charges Filed In Newport Beach Slayings

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — On Monday, a 44-year-old ex-con already charged with multiple attempted break-ins in Irvine, was charged with two counts of murder after allegedly killing a former hockey pro and a family rights activist inside a Newport Beach apartment.

Jamon Rayon Buggs, of Huntington Beach, appeared before a judge at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach but did not enter a plea. His arraignment is scheduled for May 17.

In addition to the murder charges, which include a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, prosecutors also filed one count each of possession of a firearm by a felon and attempted first-degree burglary and also added a sentencing enhancement allegation for the personal discharge of a gun causing death.

The minimum punishment if he is convicted at trial would be life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The special circumstance allegation makes him eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have yet to decide whether to pursue capital punishment.

The Scene of the Crime

Wendi Sue Miller of Costa Mesa, 48, and Darren Donald Partch, 38, were found dead inside Partch's home in Newport Beach. Their bodies were discovered at 9:30 p.m. on April 21 in Partch's in Villa Siena apartment by Partch's roommate in the 2100 block of East 15th Street near Irvine Avenue.

Miller's family released a statement after she was positively identified as a victim in this case:

"Wendi's dedication to justice for children is what she left us. We are now challenged to pick up where she was so senselessly cut down. We commit to continuing her fight. To honor her and to join us, please help keep her nonprofit, Wings for Justice, alive. Volunteer or donate at wingsforjustice.com"

Partch was a minor league hockey player, living in Newport Beach.

As of this report, it is unclear if there is a connection between Buggs and the deceased.

Attempted Break-In, Gunshots in Irvine

The initial attempted break-in occurred at about 11:35 p.m. on April 20 at 818 Silk Tree , but the burglar ran off when a resident intervened. The resident heard the intrusion on a second- story balcony and made eye contact with the suspect, according to Irvine Police Department Lt. Dave Klug. While fleeing, Buggs allegedly fired a bullet into the residence.

Another attempted break-in happened at about 5 a.m. the following day, again in the vicinity of Harvard Avenue and Barranca Parkway. Surveillance video shows the man leaving when he failed to open the front door, Klug said.

About 12:15 a.m. on April 22, Irvine police patrolling in the area of the break-ins saw a suspicious vehicle and attempted to pull over the driver, who refused and led officers on a short chase, Klug said. He said Buggs bailed from the car and ran off following a minor collision with a parked car.

The suspect then allegedly broke into an unoccupied residence and was taken into custody about 4 a.m. when he tried to run from the home, the lieutenant said.

After the Irvine home invasions, Buggs was charged with attempted burglary of an inhabited dwelling, discharge of a gun at an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm by a felon and leading police on a chase, all felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of hit-and-run with property damage and a sentencing enhancement allegation of being armed with a gun in the commission of a felony.

A History of Violence

Buggs was known to have worked as a personal trainer in both Huntington Beach and Murrieta, according to reports.

Buggs was convicted of assault on a police officer in San Diego County in 1995, the criminal complaint says. Court records also show that he pleaded guilty to felony vandalism and possession of a firearm by a felon. He also pleaded guilty to taking property from another and brandishing a firearm, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to 32 months in state prison in September of 1996.

Court records show that Buggs and his ex-girlfriend, Samantha Brewers, "got into a legal tussle" in which the two traded allegations of domestic violence and sought restraining orders against each other.

In January, Brewers alleged in a restraining order request that Buggs broke into her Huntington Beach residence. She said that on another date, she heard someone jiggling the door to her bedroom and when she asked who it was, he refused to answer.

"I called 911," she says in her court papers. "Jamon's car was down the street. My roommates are terrified and now he stated that he will have someone hurt me if I file a restraining order."

Buggs countered that he wasn't the one continuously pestering Brewers and alleged she had been peppering him with social media and text messages and even emails despite his attempts to block her. He sought a restraining order to prevent her from contacting him and said he didn't "trust" her around his 11- year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.

Buggs also accused his ex-girlfriend of pestering him to pay back money he owed her and repeatedly calling Buggs, who is black, a racial epithet.

Read also:

Wendi Miller, CEO of Wings For Justice Remembered

Hockey Player Mourned By Friends, Family in Newport Beach

2 ID'd In Newport Beach Homicide

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.