Plea for help in murders of IE elderly women

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Three elderly women were killed in separate incidents when burglars invaded their homes. Now, San Bernardino police are offering rewards in hopes of solving the crimes.

Police say the murders of Josephine Frances Kelly, Mary Beth Blaskey and Wanda Lee Paulin are similar in nature, but stop short of calling their deaths linked.

All three women were killed in their homes while they were alone, and investigators say property was taken in all three cases. In the case of 76-year-old Blaskey, police say her Lexus was also stolen but later recovered.

Two years earlier, rings belonging to Paulin also went missing but have not been recovered. On Monday, Paulin's daughter Joanne Ballard started a letter campaign in hopes of getting Gov. Jerry Brown on board to approve a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in her mother's murder.

"Two years and 26 days ago, I found my mother's body in her home. She was 86 years old, and she was the victim of violent homicide. The shock, disbelief, numbness and overwhelming sadness will always remain with me," Ballard said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the San Bernardino Police Department at (909) 384-5656.

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