Former Marine Killed in New Role as Cable Guy
By BILL FRENCH
Updated 11:57 AM PST, Wed, Nov 11, 2009
Friends say Trevor Neiman survived three tours of duty as a Camp Pendleton Marine serving in Iraq. Then he survived an unprovoked knife attack at his homecoming party in the high desert. But he couldn't survive six months as a cable TV installer in San Bernardino County.
"He was an amazing person," said his wife, Chelsea Neiman. "He was a hero and a fighter. He would do anything for anybody."
Neiman was pronounced dead at Victor Valley Community Hospital Monday afternoon after allegedly being attacked by an ex-con with a ball-peen hammer, say San Bernardino County Deputies. The suspect, Johnny Acosta of Hesperia, is being held without bail.
Neighbors say Acosta was visiting friends who had just moved into a home near Amargosa Road and Mojave Drive in Victorville. Neiman was there to work on a cable installation project for his employer, Charter Cable. At some point, Acosta allegedly attacked Neiman, hitting him repeatedly with the hammer. Witnesses said the attack appeared to be sudden, without any exchange of words.
Deputies say Acosta fled the scene, but later turned himself over to authorities and confessed after learning that he was being sought. Authorities say Acosta has a lengthy criminal record for crimes including rape and murder, and he had recently been released from prison. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Neiman and his wife had just bought their first home in Pinion Hills. But the idea of resuming a normal life after serving his country is now gone.
"He was a hero," said his mother, Loralie Neiman. "His dad and I are really proud for raising him."
First Published: Nov 10, 2009 4:53 PM PST
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