Two young men pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and two others pleaded guilty to home invasion robbery in connection with the death of a Downey man.
Paul Darvis Misikei, 22, and Sakaopo Atanasio Folau, 20, are facing 15-year-to-life terms in state prison in connection with their pleas to second-degree murder in the Jan. 17, 2016, death of Jim Rudometkin, according to Deputy District Attorney Robert Villa.
The two are due back in a Norwalk courtroom Jan. 16 for sentencing.
Co-defendants Henry Willie Sao, 31, and Michael Harrod, 28, pleaded guilty to first-degree home invasion robbery and were both immediately sentenced to six years in state prison, the prosecutor said.
The county coroner’s office concluded that the 59-year-old victim died of a heart attack brought on by a combination of a stressful event and blunt force trauma, hypertensive cardiovascular disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Rudometkin had been struck multiple times on the head and bound by a ligature, according to the coroner’s office.
Police were sent to the victim’s home in the 10300 block of Lesterford Avenue about 11:15 a.m. that day following a call from a neighbor, and were told that men were seen running from the area.
The officers gave chase and apprehended Misikei and Sao; Folau and Harrod were arrested later.
The investigation “points to the victim being specifically targeted by the suspects,” Downey police Lt. Alex Irizabal said shortly after the crime. “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.
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