A Los Angeles County probation officer was apparently beaten to death during a home invasion at her Lancaster residence, and the investigation into her killing was continuing Monday.
Deputies with LA Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lancaster Station responded to a call reporting a burglary/home invasion in the 45500 block of Barrymore Avenue, located near the intersection of 20th St W and W Ave H 8, at 12:05 a.m. Sunday.
“When deputies arrived, they found the victim … unresponsive and suffering from blunt head trauma,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. “The victim was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.”
The victim was identified as Paula Lind, a 16-year veteran of the LA County Probation Department.
An unidentified man found in the house was detained, according to officials. He was detained after investigators entered the house. On Tuesday, the LASD announced his arrest.
According to a Facebook post on Sunday by AFSCME Local 685, the union representing deputy probation officers, Lind was one of the union’s members.
“One of our DPO II was found deceased early this morning at her residence in Antelope Valley,” according to the union. “… The preliminary information is that she may be a victim of homicide. … Meanwhile, please pray for family during this tragic event.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, the woman was a veteran deputy probation officer assigned to Barry J. Nidorf juvenile hall in Sylmar. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the case told The Times that the woman had just come home from work when the attack happened.
“The Los Angeles County Probation Department sends our sincere condolences, prayers, and thoughts to her family and loved ones during their time of sorrow,” the department said in a statement Monday.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger called Lind’s death “a tragic loss of life.”
“She was a public servant that dedicated her life’s work to helping effect positive change in the lives of the probationers she supervised,” Barger said. “The perpetrator responsible for this brutal attack must be held accountable and brought to justice. I will continue to track the outcome of this investigation closely.”
Anyone with information on the crime was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477
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