GUILTY CA - Brock, 42, & Davina Husted, 42, pregnant, murdered, Faria Beach, 3 June 2009

[Bluebelle]

the female victim was reported to be 4 to 5 mos pregnant.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/ventura-murder.html

Everything about this is odd.

The above photograph of the Husteds was taken in Ventura Keys, the same neighborhood where third victim Wendy DiRodio was stabbed to death (2800 block of Sailor Avenue). This is where I grew up and was pretty shocked about the murders in Faria, then when the third murder occurred and I heard what street it was on I really freaked... I grew up on Surfrider Ave, right around the corner from the murder on Sailor Ave! Mapquest map to see proximity:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=V....258873&longitude=-119.265402&geocode=ADDRESS

I have a feeling that the 3rd murder may have been a copycat, someone using the first 2 murders to make the 3rd appear to be connected, unless the killer knew all the victims & targeted them for robbery or whatever motive. After living in that neighborhood, I don’t see how the 3rd murder could be a random act because it makes no sense to have picked this house. The houses are all very close together and there is only one way in and out of this particular area, from the map you can see it’s an “island” and is surrounded by water except for the one road connecting it. Why would someone randomly pick a house that has only one means of escape, and how in the heck did someone decide on this one house that is jammed in between a bunch of other houses?

My parents are still in Ventura but not at the beach any longer (phew!) and I still know tons of people there, they’ve told me some interesting details that I hadn’t seen (sorry if any of this is old news):

-the Husteds also own a house in the Keys but not sure how close to the third murder victim. (very weird that it's in the same neighborhood, did the victims all know each other and possibly the killer?)
-the Husteds’ children attend Pierpont elementary school, which is blocks from where I lived, and it is not the appropriate school district for Faria where the Husteds lived. Their kids went to Pierpont before the Husteds moved from the Keys to Faria so kept them enrolled there, still driving them in to school every day from Faria.
-Third victim Dr. DiRodio (PhD-counseling) was also a ballroom dance instructor in Santa Barbara and was planning to move to SB.

There are definitely WAY too many coincidences for me.

Note: One of my mom’s friends (lol) still lives on Surfrider & plays bridge with an acquaintance of Mrs. Husted, said the Husteds used to live in the house they have in the Keys & also that it's on a diff street than the 3rd victim’s... fwiw

 

[JBean]

yes I can do that. I will see what I can find out without revealing any private information.


ETA: I looked it up, the Husted rental is on another street. The murdered woman's parents are the owners on title of the home she was killed in.
The 2 houses are .78 miles apart. That is driving distance. As the crow flies they are actually much closer maybe about .2 of a mile apart or less.

The above photograph of the Husteds was taken in Ventura Keys, the same neighborhood where third victim Wendy DiRodio was stabbed to death (2800 block of Sailor Avenue). This is where I grew up and was pretty shocked about the murders in Faria, then when the third murder occurred and I heard what street it was on I really freaked... I grew up on Surfrider Ave, right around the corner from the murder on Sailor Ave! Mapquest map to see proximity:


:

-the Husteds also own a house in the Keys on Sailor Ave (!!!) either next door to or across the street from the third murder victim.

There are definitely too many coincidences for me.

Thanks for that inside info Blubelle.
I think maybe the part about having a house across the street was just an escalating rumor. I went through every single neighbor on Sailor and did a search on all the Husted's properties. I cannot see that they owned the house across the street or next door to DiRodio. I did find a nearby home that they owned and its location is referenced above.
Of course perhaps the Husteds just bought one recently and records haven't been updated.

 

[Emily Booth]

Could this be because you have been reading here for 2009........

I know that since I am a natural news junkie that in the years since I have had internet I just see more. I have old news papers from the turn of the century that has just as horrible stuff, just all regional. At least now, with current technology, there seems to be more solved.

If you're interested in crimes around the turn of the century, check out Northwestern University's Homicide in Chicago department: http://homicide.northwestern.edu/ From their website: "The patterns of homicide which emerged from our study of the record were unique, but also similar to those exhibited today and in other studies of homicide and social violence: killings related to what we now term domestic violence, lethal violence by police and the killing of police officers, seemingly senseless slayings in bars and saloons, what appear to be impulse murders over trivial amounts of money, random and spontaneous insults or gratuitous verbal exchanges, killings by persons who are drunk, and murders by the insane, the mentally deranged or mentally disabled."

 

[Bluebelle]

Thanks for that inside info Blubelle.
I think maybe the part about having a house across the street was just an escalating rumor. I went through every single neighbor on Sailor and did a search on all the Husted's properties. I cannot see that they owned the house across the street or next door to DiRodio. I did find a nearby home that they owned and its location is referenced above.
Of course perhaps the Husteds just bought one recently and records haven't been updated.

Thanks for looking all of those up, Bean, that was a lot of work - I know there will be lots of rumors & speculation since we aren't getting much info from LE, so it really helps to have some solid facts to go from.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

Wendy was a counselor...maybe she counseled one of the Husted's.

What kind of counselor was Wendy?

 

[gaia227]

If you're interested in crimes around the turn of the century, check out Northwestern University's Homicide in Chicago department: http://homicide.northwestern.edu/ From their website: "The patterns of homicide which emerged from our study of the record were unique, but also similar to those exhibited today and in other studies of homicide and social violence: killings related to what we now term domestic violence, lethal violence by police and the killing of police officers, seemingly senseless slayings in bars and saloons, what appear to be impulse murders over trivial amounts of money, random and spontaneous insults or gratuitous verbal exchanges, killings by persons who are drunk, and murders by the insane, the mentally deranged or mentally disabled."

Thanks Emily! I am really interested in cold cases and have never seen this website before.

 

[Bluebelle]

Thanks to Bean we know that the H’s Ventura Keys rental house is close but not right next to the third victim’s home. No connection, other than Wendy DiRodio probably knew her killer & that killer used the Faria case to commit a copycat murder. I agree with y’all who suggested a boyfriend, ex-husb or client/patient as her killer, I think that’s right on the money.

Jane VM is covering the DiRodio case tonight.

 

[Bluebelle]

What kind of counselor was Wendy?

This is from the local newspaper:

"Friends of Di Rodio, an author with a doctorate in psychology, said she was always looking at the bright side of life. The licensed marriage and family therapist turned 61 on Monday."

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/06/web-site-set-up-for-stabbing-victim/

 

[SteveHuff]

Okay, y'all. More than two weeks since the Husteds were killed and no recent news that I could find on Dr. Di Rodio. At first I thought the Husteds were perhaps targeted. I still might be right about that. But something about the speed of these investigations is making me wonder what's really afoot, here. Three people dead with a cooling off period (exactly two weeks) in between = serial crime if the same killer is involved. I'm beginning to think the same killer could be a distinct possibility here.

 

[Knox]

The news has been awfully quiet on this case. I assume that means LE is gaining ground and hopefully the Husted case will be solved soon. With our State budget in such a mess I think LE at the City and County levels are struggling with record case loads and dwindling staff and resources.

 

[fran]

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0906/08/ijvm.01.html

VELEZ-MITCHELL: In the spotlight tonight, a third brutal murder rocks an upscale California beach community. A woman stabbed repeatedly, dying in her waterfront home. This comes just two weeks after a pregnant woman and her husband brutally stabbed to death in their beach house just nine miles away with no suspect and no apparent leads in either case.

That entire stretch of coastland in Southern California gripped with fear. Locals see clear similarities in the two cases, and cops say they could be right.

SGT. JACK RICHARDS, VENTURA POLICE DEPARTMENT: The big question is, was it here -- is it related to the Faria homicides? Right now we have no direct link. But that door is still wide open.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The viciousness of these killings leads some to only one question: is there a deranged killer, a psycho on the loose along one of the most glamorous coastlines in the entire world?

Joining me now, Angie Crouch, investigative reporter.

Angie, you`re in Southern California, tracking cases. I understand you`ve dug up some new information. What have you got for us?

ANGIE CROUCH, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: That`s right, Jane. We did an extensive public record search to see whether we could find any links between the two cases. And I found a fascinating development.

As you said, the first murder victims, turns out that they own a home and dock their boat just a few hundred yards away from the home of the second victim, Wendy Di Rodio. Now, we checked with the family of the Husteds, and they say that the Husteds had not visited that boat since December, but we know that police did a search warrant there and searched the boat shortly after their murders.

Now, Ventura Police and Ventura Sheriff`s Department got together over the weekend to compare notes about these two cases to see whether or not they can find any similarities, to see if it could be the same killer. But at this point they say they have no reason to believe that these victims knew each other.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. So there may be a link there in that marina.

With no suspects, cops are not willing to say if these three murders are targeted or random. Brock Husted`s brother has this theory, though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HUSTED, BROTHER OF VICTIM: My guts tell me that I leave it open. I look at one aspect of it, and I said, you know, it`s random. Somebody at the beach house, lights on. There`s, you know, plenty of people walking through there, transients and what not, and then I look at the other aspect that it could be targeted.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, these murderers share some commonality. Vicious, multiple stabbings. Friends and family say all three victims were happy, no enemies. And of course, both beach-front murders just nine miles apart within the span of two weeks. In one case we know the killer in the first case wore a motorcycle helmet, which obscured his face. What else do we now, Angie?

CROUCH: Police really aren`t saying much about the suspect in the second case. We know that both victims were inside locked bedrooms. At the time, all three victims were inside locked bedrooms at the times of the murders. And there were other people inside the homes when they were killed.

Now I talked to Scott Husted today. He says he`s bothered by the fact that Ventura police found Wendy Ri Dio`s [SIC] body at about 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon but didn`t release this story to the public until the following day. And when they did, they originally released the information that this could be a possible suicide, which they later changed to a homicide.

But Scott Husted wants to know what kind of games are police playing, and why didn`t they release that information to the public? There`s been a lot (ph) in Ventura.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Angie, a suicide with a stabbing? I mean, give me a break.

CROUCH: Yes, it really didn`t make any sense, because they didn`t find the knife inside the bedroom. So obviously, that was a theory that was not going to fly.

 

[Lovejac]

Thank you for posting this, fran.

Now, I'm trying to remember which members were researching this connection a couple of days ago. Raise your hands guys! I love my Websleuth Peeps :blowkiss: Y'all are the best of the best!

 

[LCoastMom]

I agree that there is a connection. I had the feeling from the beginning that this was a crime of opportunity. There's a nut on the loose. It's scary. But, LE at the beginning stated firmly that the incident with the neighbor of the Husteds who heard someone walking around his house, was not related and that it seemed the Husteds were targeted. This could have given people a false sense of security. I questioned whether they were trying to keep people from panicking, but if they had nothing to suggest this wasn't a random crime of opportunity, I feel LE did the public a disservice.

Considering this is normally one of the lowest crime areas in the city, I felt LE was being entirely appropriate. Not instilling panic, yet telling people to keep their doors locked.

What are they (LE) supposed to do with a crime such as this? (not being snarky, I think they're damned if they do and damned if they don't) While geographically spread out over several miles, these beach communities are a very tight group of people, a place where everybody knows everybody's business and everyone looks out for each other.

Knifings in the past have been thought to be weapons of opportunity or crimes of passion. They are not quick or clean or quiet, although I guess anyone who plans such a murder can pretty much expect to find a weapon in any kitchen. But why was this person in their house that night? Why were the H's murdered, while their son looked on and their daughter stayed in her room? No one has come up with a plausible reason or even how he managed to randomly be in their neighborhood. If it was in fact random.

The above photograph of the Husteds was taken in Ventura Keys, the same neighborhood where third victim Wendy DiRodio was stabbed to death (2800 block of Sailor Avenue). Mapquest map to see proximity:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=V....258873&longitude=-119.265402&geocode=ADDRESS

I have a feeling that the 3rd murder may have been a copycat, someone using the first 2 murders to make the 3rd appear to be connected, unless the killer knew all the victims & targeted them for robbery or whatever motive. After living in that neighborhood, I don’t see how the 3rd murder could be a random act because it makes no sense to have picked this house. The houses are all very close together and there is only one way in and out of this particular area, from the map you can see it’s an “island” and is surrounded by water except for the one road connecting it. Why would someone randomly pick a house that has only one means of escape, and how in the heck did someone decide on this one house that is jammed in between a bunch of other houses?

-the Husteds also own a house in the Keys but not sure how close to the third murder victim. (very weird that it's in the same neighborhood, did the victims all know each other and possibly the killer?)
-the Husteds’ children attend Pierpont elementary school, which is blocks from where I lived, and it is not the appropriate school district for Faria where the Husteds lived. Their kids went to Pierpont before the Husteds moved from the Keys to Faria so kept them enrolled there, still driving them in to school every day from Faria.
-Third victim Dr. DiRodio (PhD-counseling) was also a ballroom dance instructor in Santa Barbara and was planning to move to SB.

respectfully snipped-bold by me

I don't see how this can be a random killing, those houses are just not that easily accessed from the world at large. Gated community, houses all right on top of each other. If it is a crazy person, he would have to be crazy like a fox to have gotten in and out of the neighborhood and the house unseen by anyone.

The press has reported no one heard a motorcycle the night the Husteds were killed. So the murderer either walked into the gated community on foot carrying or wearing the motorcycle helmet he used as a mask. Or he drove a car into the beach community, motorcycle helmet at his side, but he seems to have showed up with no weapon. He broke into their home, walked into the kitchen apparently hoping to help himself to their cutlery. Finding what he was looking for, he attacked DH first. There was enough of a struggle, her husband heard her from the master bedroom and he came to her aid, but he was also over powered by the assailant and BH was then stabbed to death along with his wife, who was about 4 1/2 mos pregnant.

What happened next is as perplexing as the murders themselves. After brutally stabbing the Husteds to death. The assailant sets down his weapon, then leaves the house. Disappearing into the night while the Husted's young son who was watching TV and witnessed the attack, was left unharmed!

This attack does not sound random to me. Random brings a weapon, not knowing where or when the attack will take place. Random is sloppy, leaving a trail like Hansel and Gretal's breadcrumbs. Random doesn't leave witnesses. There is nothing random here.

A family like mine or yours, going about their business. Getting ready to call it a day. Within a few minutes of meeting their killer the family had been destroyed and 2 children were left orphaned, one of them left irreparably harmed after watching his parents murdered in cold blood. This was any family in America destroyed by a senseless act.


I'm not sure what school the kids go to has to do with the crime; but Pierpont is the preferred public school in the city. A public school with class sizes similar to old private schools and where parental involvement is mandatory. I don't know if this system is still used today, but Pierpont always had such a long waiting list for people who live out of the district wanting in, they used a lottery. No way in heck after getting a kid in, would the family pull the child from the school "just because they moved".

I knew Davina from volunteer work we did together. She was as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She always looked like a beauty queen, even in jeans and a t-shirt. The people she came into contact with felt lucky to know her but she treated people like she was the lucky one, regardless of the circumstances of the meeting.

Her family was her life, her husband was her prince. Her children were the air she breathed. They were beyond privileged yet, she made the kids earn their spending money and were never allowed to take their privileged lives for granted. They were all excited about the new baby and were looking forward to the upcoming birth.

Her husband (IMO) acted like a lot of men his age and in his position, he worked hard and played hard. He loved his wife and his children. He was a bit of a risk taker but he was never careless. He bought the Iron Fence company from the former owner after working for the company.

I had the feeling Brock came from a slightly more influential (read: wealthy) family. Davina, IIRC spent a goodly number of her growing up years in Port Hueneme, where some of her family still lives. They were both close to their extended family and spent as much time together as all of their busy lives and growing children allowed. Both of their families have long time ties to the county and the cities they live in.

I'm sorry, for all my rambling I don't have a clue who would have done this, or why or if the two crimes are connected and what besides geography connects them. I know their families are devastated, I know their children will be helped through this and endlessly loved. I hope it's enough. I hope they find the person responsible. I hope they make an example out of him. Anyone who would walk into someone's home and murder 2 people and an unborn baby in front of a little boy, doesn't deserve the privilege of our judicial system.

 

[montana_16]

missmybaby, thank you for this informative and heartfelt post. You have shown us with your words what a truly lovely family the Husteds were. I hate to have to say were. They should have been left alone to live out their lives in peace.

This is such a terrible tragedy. I offer my condolences to you also for the pain and grief you are going through. montana

 

[fran]

missmybaby

I'd like to join montana_16 and thank you for taking the time to post. My condolences in the loss of your friends. Such a horrendous crime, and for what? I only pray that LE is able to bring the loved one's of this husband/wife the answers they seek. I hope LE is able to solve this mystery.

By your description of the Husteds, they didn't appear to have nor seem like the type of persons to have enemies. But then again, there's always the chance someone in the background of their lives could just be jealous of what they had. This jealousy COULD have turned into a hate that drove them to the brink of murder.

They say that the only perfect crime is when there's no evidence of a crime. In addition, it's often the 'random acts' that LE is unable to solve. As there are no courses on murder, we can only hope that the perp was careless and left at least one clue that can lead back to them.

One thing that bothers me about THIS crime and the THIRD murder in that area, are the coincidences. After watching and studying crimes for a few years here on Websleuths, the one thing I always try to remember LE say, "There's no such thing as coincidence when it comes to murder."

It makes me pause each time I do see a 'coincidence' and wonder if it's 'fate' that there is a coincidence when it comes to an investigation, or are LE correct when they often say, 'It's no coincidence?'

Because of the type of people the Hulsteds were, it's difficult to comprehend there could be one of their acquaintances who wanted to destroy them. IMO, it's more believeable that the perp is a stranger. From what I've been reading recently, the odds of the person LE seeks as a stranger is 1 in 3 murders are from strangers. (I think that statistic is correct) IF it is a stranger, I believe LE needs to seriously look at the third murder very closely AND watch for a recurrence in the vicinity. LE may even want to look into previous crimes in YEARS past in that area, to see of any similarities.

As you and many of the victim's friends and family are unable to comprehend who may have done this to the couple, that in itself may be the biggest indication that this was in fact, a 'random' act. I hope you receive your answers.

JMHO
fran

 

[colette]

Davina Husted was a beautiful woman. Wendy Di Rodio, although a little older than Davina was very beautiful as well and looked younger than her real age. I'm thinking the women were the target... not sure if the crimes are connected but it sure seems possible. Brock was murdered because he helped Davina. Wendy's parents and the Husted children were left untouched, that's why I think the women were the target.

 

[fran]

Davina Husted was a beautiful woman. Wendy Di Rodio, although a little older than Davina was very beautiful as well and looked younger than her real age. I'm thinking the women were the target... not sure if the crimes are connected but it sure seems possible. Brock was murdered because he helped Davina. Wendy's parents and the Husted children were left untouched, that's why I think the women were the target.

Thank you for your thought colette. Makes perfect sense. PERHAPS it's some type of serial killer, or demented person, who gets a thrill out of attacking his victim while SOMEONE else is in the home. It's a bit of the control type mentality.

Again, not saying it is, but this could be another indication this could POSSIBLY be connected to the Original Night Stalker. I know most of the victims were killed with something other than a knife, as these two cases were, but that doesn't mean it's not connected. The fact that there was even 'one case' they believe COULD be connected to the ONS where a knife was used, brings a 'coincidence factor' into play.

I find it spooky, but ealier I was reading a DOJ report or synopsis type thing about seriel killers. It went on to explain about sane and insane. They discussed the 'different' methods etc., the progression of the individuals sinking into the abyss of murder. There was always an underlying REASON for each circumstance, buried from the perps previous life, a relation as such. It begins as a mental fantasy, starts simple enough, but gradually progresses into murder and various (coincidence) type things build, mutilate into another and then another. Like some rapists begin as a burglar, then progress to rape of the occupant, and eventually murder. That scenario actually happened with the ONS, rape, 50 of them, then murder, and NOT just a woman, but a man as well.........couples targeted, then alone women, back and forth, changing MO's, from target to weapon........evolving.

It just seems that with both the Hulsted case and the Di Rodio case, the fact there were other people in the house, that that COULD have been part of the 'circumstances' the perp needed to be present. The fact he could get away with it while someone else is there. One of the ONS's, a child was present, asleep in his room. Some of the other cases, husband and wife were both present and he made the husband watch what he did. Subsequent crimes didn't involve sexual assault.

I really believe LE needs to dust off those old files and revisit previous crimes. There's something their, IMO. IF not actually the same perp, a copy-cat. I don't believe the recent airing of the documentary about the ONS is a *coincidence.* could be, but I don't THINK so. It may have been as simple as a 'trigger.'

JMHO
fran

 

[colette]

If related to ear/ons it would be that the killer is a copycat. It is strange that the E channel just had the THS show on ONS, then these murders happen in this area of California. Also strange was the fact that E channel was due to run that show one more time but didn't air it. I don't believe this killer is ear/ons but a copycat is a possibility. ear/ons liked to bind and torture his victims, I see none of that here.

 

[Bluebelle]

Hi MissMyBaby, many thanks for your insightful post. And my deepest condolences to you for the loss of your wonderful friends, so very sad.
I just wanted to clarify about Pierpont Elementary… the reason I mentioned what I had heard was because it would put one of the Husteds in the area every weekday to bring their kids to school, if that is where they attended. Just another weird coincidence with no real significance that I can see. There are so many coincidences, but like you, I’m skeptical that these terrible crimes are connected. And I agree that they were not random… my first thought was an ex-employee of the Husteds’ when I heard they owned a business. And with Dr. DiRodio my first thought was a jilted boyfriend doing a copycat killing to throw police off his trail. But there is so much we don’t know, I hope the police are making headway.

 

[Knox]

Thank you for posting this, fran.

Now, I'm trying to remember which members were researching this connection a couple of days ago. Raise your hands guys! I love my Websleuth Peeps :blowkiss: Y'all are the best of the best!

Lovejac ... Do you think the Astro's could take a look at Husted & DiRodio cases? Their contribution's are invaluable. I'd be willing to help track down all the info they will need.