Los Angeles: On January 20, 2004, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint charging Gregory Douglas Miner, 28 years of age, with two counts of murder with special circumstances in the February 4, 2001, burglary, robbery, arson, and murders of William and Bertha Lasky of West Hills, CA.

On February 5, 2001, at 6:20 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to a residential fire in the 7200 block of Pomelo Drive. While extinguishing the fire, the firefighters discovered the bodies of an elderly couple, William and Bertha Lasky. The subsequent investigation revealed that unknown suspect(s) had stabbed the couple to death. The suspect(s) stole property from the location and then attempted to conceal the crime by setting the residence on fire.

The follow-up investigation conducted by Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD) revealed that the suspect(s) had confronted the victims on the afternoon of February 4, 2001. The suspects utilized the victims’ 1995 Buick Regal to possibly transport stolen property from the scene and then returned it to the victims’ garage before setting the house on fire.

On August 22, 2001, Investigators Mayes and Dunlop from the West Valley Property Crimes Unit arrested Gregory Miner for a burglary with elements that mirrored those in the Lasky investigation. This burglary took place approximately two miles from the Lasky residence and the victims were an elderly couple. During the course of the burglary, Gregory Miner took the victims’ car and later returned it to a location near the victims’ residence. Investigators Mayes and Dunlop (who had been assisting RHD detectives with the Lasky investigation) developed information in their burglary investigation that caused them to believe that Gregory Miner may have personal knowledge pertaining to the Lasky investigation. This information was developed by RHD detectives and served as the basis for the January 20, 2004, murder filing against Miner.

In April, 2002, Gregory Miner was convicted of the August 2001 burglary of the elderly couple and was sentenced to four years in State Prison. Gregory Miner was scheduled for release from Avenal State Prison on January 23, 2004, however, the pending murder charges precluded him from being released.

Gregory Miner was scheduled for transfer to the Los Angeles County Jail on January 26, 2004, and it is expected that he will be arraigned in the Van Nuys Branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court later this week. Gregory Miner is being held without bail.

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.