Transient suspected in man’s death

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- Police arrested a 39-year-old homeless man early Friday

on suspicion of bludgeoning to death another transient, authorities said.

The unidentified, 47-year-old dead man was found in some bushes in a

commercial area in the 2000 block of Harbor Boulevard around 7 a.m.

Friday, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith. Another homeless

acquaintance of the victim made the 911 call from a motel across the

street, he said.

Smith said about one hour later, officers found Jerry Patrick Keating

hiding in the laundry room of a neighboring apartment complex with his

clothes and backpack.

“We found blood on his clothes which we think might match the blood of

the deceased,” Smith said. However, it could take weeks to get results

from the DNA tests, he said.

Police said they would not identify the dead man until his family had

been notified.

Authorities said he must have died between 9 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m.

Friday.

The motive for the murder is unclear, Smith said.

“It was clearly not robbery,” Smith said. “The dead man hardly had any

belongings. We’re working on the premise that there was some kind of

argument between the two men.”

The man could have been killed when he was asleep because he was found

wrapped in blankets, he said.

To investigate, police closed off the parking lot near where the body

was found. Business owners in the area said they were shaken up by the

incident.

Chi Wang, owner of Golden Dragon Chinese Mandarin Restaurant, shook

her head as she stood outside watching the officers investigating the

crime scene.

“It’s so sad,” said Wang, who has owned the restaurant for 25 years.

“I feel sorry for the dead person. Costa Mesa used to be a very nice

city. I don’t know what happened.”

Wang said she had very few customers Friday because the parking lot

was closed.

Elbira Abalos, a 10-year resident of the neighborhood, said she was

shocked.

“I’ve never heard of anything like this happen here,” she said. “But

I’m glad they caught the guy who did it.”

Keating is being held in Costa Mesa Jail with bail set at $100,000.

Smith said he will be arraigned sometime next week.