Man accused of killing elderly uncle with a mallet to appear in court

A 44-year-old man suspected of killing his elderly uncle in La Crescenta last July using a mallet is slated to be arraigned on Wednesday, records show.

David Bushman was arrested by Inglewood police on Feb. 8, five days after Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials filed a warrant for his arrest in the case.

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Bushman was charged with one count of murder in the death of 73-year-old Arthur Palmer, who coroner’s officials said was found with “multiple blunt force traumatic injuries” in the attached garage of his home, located on the 3000 block of Frances Avenue, on July 24 of last year.

Deputies responded to the residence after a concerned neighbor reported not having seen or heard from Palmer for some time. According to investigators, Palmer was last seen three days before he was found dead.

Combing through the home for evidence was a challenge, as Palmer was “somewhat of a hoarder” and lived without electricity or running water, according to sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman.

“It was very difficult because he was a recluse, he didn’t go out a whole lot,” Coleman said. “The house was a wreck to go through to identify evidence.”

DNA evidence lifted from the scene, however, was crucial in identifying the suspect, he added.

Details regarding a motive were not available, though Coleman said the killing was not random.

“I know the neighborhood was unnerved, but it wasn’t a random murderer that was running through the neighborhood,” he said.

Bushman is being held in lieu of more than $1 million bail.

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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek