Three Charged With Killing Man During Home-Invasion Robbery

Two men and a 17-year-old boy were charged Wednesday with murder and other counts for allegedly killing a Downey man during a weekend home-invasion robbery.

Paul Darvis Misikei, 18, Henry Willie Sao, 27, and Sakaopo Atanasio Folau, who is 17 and charged as an adult, are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on one count each of murder, home-invasion robbery and first-degree burglary with a person present.

The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation that the victim, 59-year-old Jim Rudometkin, was killed during the crime of robbery and residential burglary.

Prosecutors are expected to decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Misikei and Sao. Folau cannot face the death penalty because of his age.

An autopsy determined that Rudometkin died from blunt trauma and heart disease, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

He had been struck multiple times on the head and “bound by ligature,” Winter said.

Officers sent to the home in the 10300 block of Lesterford Avenue at about 11:15 a.m. Sunday were told that men were seen running from the area, according to Downey police Sgt. Terry Goeckner.

A witness had seen two suspects contact the homeowner near the side door and force him back into his home, police said. The witness said a third person also entered the home during the robbery.

The officers gave chase after arriving and apprehended Sao, a Long Beach resident, and Misikei, an Anaheim resident, but the teenage suspect got away, Goeckner said.

Folau was arrested Tuesday and taken to a juvenile detention center, police said.

“Further information gathered during this investigation points to the victim being specifically targeted by the suspects,” Downey police Lt. Alex Irizabal said. “We do not believe this was a random crime.”

Neighbors said Rudometkin was a well-liked local Realtor who had lived alone since his father’s death.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock