Merced's Double Murder Investigation Continues

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

10/3/2006 -- North Valley investigators are still looking for the person who killed an elderly couple and set their home on fire. It's been three days since the bodies of Bill and Lena Chapman were found in their Merced home.

Police spent the day conducting more interviews and looking for clues into who killed this elderly couple. While they search for answers, neighbors are staying close to their homes and Merced residents are taking more safety precautions these days

Merced resident, Donna Boothe said, "Of course we are very concerned now and it's too bad it takes something like this to make us more concerned."

Donna Boothe has lived in her Merced home for 44 years and it's just one block from where police say Bill and Lena Chapman were assaulted, killed, and their home torched. Boothe says she has never felt unsafe until now. "My daughter in law and son were just saying maybe we should look into an alarm system."

Merced police don't have any suspects in the double murder case and are warning residents to look out for suspicious activity.

Omar Brawley lives just 2 doors down from the Chapman's and says he's been robbed seven times in the last ten years. "I am taking all the precautions i can to protect myself and my wife by putting bars on the windows, security systems, naturally we are armed inside which we are allowed to."

Family members spent the day at the Chapman's home along Bear Creek Drive, sorting through personal belongings, many of which were destroyed by the fire that police say was set to cover up evidence.

The incident is making for restless nights for many who live along the creek that is lined with large homes.

The Merced County Coroner is conducting autopsies on the bodies today and tomorrow. Police expect to release those results sometime this week.

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