Man Suspected in La Verne Couple's Death in Custody

A man suspected of the brutal slaying of an elderly couple inside their La Verne mansion last year has been behind bars on an unrelated charge since February, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.

Shirley Isom, 74, and Armie Isom, 89, were killed Dec. 26, and sheriff’s investigators launched a massive search for a suspect described walking away from the scene of the crime.

According to spokeswoman Nicole Nishida, the suspect has been in custody on an unrelated charge.

People from the neighborhood were happy someone had finally been caught.

"I think it's good. I mean someone beating up and killing an older couple like that is just horrible," resident John Goforth said. "It has shocked a lot of people ... people feel a little safer maybe that they've got this guy and he's not out running around ... hurting somebody else out there."

The suspect, wearing a hooded jacket and carrying a backpack, was seen in the video walking at a fast pace near the crime scene and then was later spotted walking a few miles away at a nearby Metrolink station.

Armie Isom was a wealthy businessman, but nothing was stolen from the home. Several civil lawsuits were pending against him, which investigators are looking into as a possible motive.

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Detectives have not released a suspected motive for the killing, but are expected to hold a news conference to release new details Wednesday morning.

Sources told NBC4 investigators checked for a possible link with the murders of 78-year-old Joseph Gatto in Silverlake and Toni Yager, 76, of Windsor Square, however no connection was found.

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