A California man is accused of murdering two males he met via a relationship app and trying to kill a 3rd in what prosecutors described as “inexplicable” and “predatory” acts of violence.
Rockim Prowell, 34, of Inglewood, has been charged with two counts of homicide for the deaths of males prosecutors say he met via an unnamed relationship app in 2021 and 2023.
The third alleged sufferer additionally met the suspect via the identical relationship app in February, prosecutors mentioned. After being sure and crushed with a baseball bat, the person managed to flee, police mentioned.
“Think about the phobia and horror these victims felt after being duped into believing they had been assembly for one purpose, solely to face inexplicable violence,” Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman mentioned in a assertion Monday asserting the fees. “These had been predatory acts that confirmed a complete disregard of life. This suspect has now been stopped in his tracks due to the diligent and tenacious work achieved by investigators at each the Los Angeles Police Division and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division.”
Automobiles stolen from the 2 homicide victims had been linked to Prowell, in line with prosecutors, who mentioned the suspect is a serial burglar.
One of many victims, 51-year-old Miguel Angel King, met with Prowell on July 20, 2021, after connecting with the suspect on the relationship app, in line with prosecutors. Prosecutors allege Prowell murdered King, then stole the sufferer’s automobile, which was discovered greater than per week later, a number of miles from Prowell’s house.
“Forensic proof recovered from the automobile linked Prowell to the slaying,” the district lawyer’s workplace mentioned.
King’s stays had been in the end discovered within the Angeles Nationwide Forest in August 2021, prosecutors mentioned.
Two years later, on Aug. 21, 2023, prosecutors mentioned Prowell agreed to fulfill with the second homicide sufferer — 53-year-old Robert Gutierrez — a couple of mile from the suspect’s house after interacting via the relationship app. Gutierrez’s household reported him lacking two days later, and his physique was by no means discovered, prosecutors mentioned.
On Feb. 22, prosecutors say Prowell met with a 40-year-old man he had related with via the relationship app about 4 miles from the suspect’s house.
“Prowell allegedly sure the sufferer, stole his pockets and beat him with a baseball bat,” the district lawyer’s workplace mentioned. “The sufferer managed to flee however Prowell chased the person in a automobile, putting him and breaking his leg.”
When Prowell was arrested final week, they discovered Gutierrez’s automotive in his storage, prosecutors mentioned.
Prowell has been charged with two counts of homicide with the particular circumstance allegation of a number of murders, in addition to one rely of tried homicide, two counts every of carjacking and second-degree housebreaking and one rely of assault with a lethal weapon.
He’s being held on $2 million bail, on-line jail information present. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. It’s unclear if he has an lawyer at the moment.
If convicted as charged, he faces loss of life or life in state jail with out the potential of parole. A call on whether or not to hunt the loss of life penalty might be made at a later date, the district lawyer’s workplace mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned the suspect is at present on probation for burglaries he dedicated within the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles areas between 2019 and 2021.
Prowell was arrested in Could 2021 in reference to a sequence of burglaries in Beverly Hills. Police mentioned on the time that he wore a prosthetic masks with a wig throughout the crimes.
