$125,000 Reward Offered in Death of Man Set Afire

City officials and the family of a 33-year-old North Hollywood man who was slain last December have posted a $125,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

On the last day of his life, Joe Marien worked a full day at Boeing’s Rocketdyne Division, picked up a few last-minute Christmas gifts and then spent a couple of hours at a Sun Valley bar. Twelve hours later, three of Marien’s neighbors called 911 to report a fire at Marien’s house. Authorities found his body, which had been set on fire. On Monday, detectives said they are no closer to solving Marien’s death.

At a news conference Monday attended by family members and Fred Goldman, whose son, Ronald, and Nicole Brown Simpson were slain three years ago, Marien’s brother and sisters solemnly asked: Why would anyone want to kill the shy test engineer?

Authorities do not believe it was a random killing. Nothing appeared to have been stolen and there were no signs of forced entry. Marien was beaten and the small guest house in which he lived in the 12000 block of Califa Street was set ablaze, destroying most evidence.

The family has added $100,000 to the city’s $25,000 reward. Police asked that anyone with information about the slaying call the North Hollywood detectives at (818) 623-4075 or (818) 623-4016.