84-year-old man stabbed to death in Whittier home; suspect on the run

Man fatally stabbed during Whittier home invasion

The victim was identified as Rolland Alexander II.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - An 84-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in the Whittier area was identified Thursday.

Authorities said the suspect attacked two men, fatally stabbing one of them, and then left in the victim's vehicle, which was recovered in Chino.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office, the deceased victim was identified as Rolland Alexander II.

Alexander's body was found around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in a house in the 15300 block of Goodhue Street, just west of the Whittier city limits in the unincorporated South Whittier area, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Robert Luna displayed security video indicating the suspect had entered Alexander's residence about 2:45 p.m. Monday.

Luna said the suspect drove away a couple of minutes later in Alexander's vehicle -- a silver Toyota RAV4, license number VPH289 -- which has since been recovered in Chino.

"Based on the surveillance video, we believe the murder occurred on Aug. 28 at approximately 2:45 p.m.," Luna said.

Luna said security images showed the Alexander's vehicle being driven in Ontario around 3 a.m. Tuesday, and also showed it parked in Chino about three hours later.

1 stabbed to death in Whittier

Two men were stabbed, one of the victims dying from the attack, in Whittier and the suspect remains on the run.

"We believe the suspect has been driving around in this vehicle for at least a day -- maybe a night -- and if anybody saw this vehicle anywhere between the area of Whittier, all the way out to the area of, potentially, Chino or Ontario, please notify our homicide detectives immediately," the sheriff said.

The suspect was described as a man with a dark complexion, possibly in his 30s, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, with short hair. The man, who may be homeless, wore dark pants and a tan shirt, Luna said.

Detectives believe the suspect also assaulted an "elderly" man in the 15500 block of Fernview Street in Whittier, about four-tenths of a mile from Alexander's home and a few minutes before the homicide, but he fled when that victim's son intervened in that attack, Luna said.

Luna urged anyone with information on the case to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Whittier Crime and Public Safety