Murdered Homeless Woman Was 60s Soul Singer

SANTA ANA, CA — A 76-year-old woman who was killed New Year's Day in Santa Ana was a soul singer from the 1960s. Betty Jane Willis was best known for her songs "Someday You'll Need My Love," "Act Naturally," and "Take My Heart."

Willis recorded "Revolution" as the leader of Rachel and the Revolvers for the Beach Boys' star Brian Wilson, according to Hollywood.com. But on New Year's day, her voice cried out one last time, for help.

Anaheim police answered multiple 911 calls but when officers arrived, Willis was unresponsive, and pronounced dead at the scene.

On Wednesday, Rosendo Xo Pec, 22, of Santa Ana, was charged with capital murder for Willis's death. Pec was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday afternoon in Santa Ana.

The murder charge against him includes a special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted rape. Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney said there's no indication Pec knew Willis, initially leading to speculation the attack was an attempted robbery.

Police received multiple 911 calls as Willis shouted for help as she was being attacked just before 4:15 a.m. Monday in a parking lot on the 1600 block of W. First St., according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

The attack happened near a homeless encampment, Bertagna said. A cause of death has not been released, pending an autopsy.

Officers arrived at the crime scene within a few minutes, and when they got there they saw Pec "hiding in the bushes," Bertagna said.

The suspect ran from the officers "and he tried to go over a wall, but officers were able to detain him," Bertagna said. Pec said he lives in the area, but detectives were working to determine a place of residence, Bertagna said.

Willis' relatives were "working diligently to get her off the streets" at the time of her death, according to Bertagna.

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