The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has released a composite sketch of a suspect in the double homicide of Armie and Shirley Isom of La Verne. The elderly couple was killed in the entryway of their home on Friday, December 26 at about 1 p.m.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male in his late-20s or early-30s. On the day of the crime, he was reportedly dressed in a dark-hooded jacket and carrying a large backpack.

As the COURIER previously reported, the La Verne couple was attacked in their home on the 300 block of Roughrider Road.

Initial reports from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were conflicting, however, investigators have since determined that Mr. Isom died of blunt-force trauma, while Ms. Isom’s injuries were said to be caused by both blunt- and sharp-force trauma. The 74-year-old woman died at the home; her husband, 89, died of injuries later at the hospital.

Lt. Dave Coleman of the LA County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division said in a news conference this week that the suspect was wearing “hiking attire,” refuting neighbor reports that the individual appeared “homeless” or “scruffy.” Lt. Coleman also reported that a weapon was recovered at the scene, but no additional information was given.

Investigators initially said he was described as a Hispanic male, 25 to 30 years old, weighing about 160 pounds and standing anywhere from 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall. He was said to be wearing Levi’s-style blue jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt that was either orange, blue or green. Also, it was reported that he was wearing an orange or green backpack. Based on conflicting eyewitness reports, sheriff’s investigators later said that no suspect description was available.

According to Lt. Aaron Fate of the Claremont Police Department, residents on the 4100 block of Tenango Road—located just south of Base Line Road and Live Oak Canyon, where the crime took place—had seen a man matching the description of the suspect walking down the street with blood stains on his sweatshirt.

Police were aiding in the search at about 2 p.m. on December 26 when a Claremont resident flagged down the officer to say he or she had seen the suspect calmly walking down Tenango about 20 minutes prior. However, no one called 9-1-1 or reported by telephone at the time they saw the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect should call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. To report anonymously, call “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-8477, or text the letters TIPLA plus your tip to 274637, or visit the website lacrimestoppers.org.

—Kathryn Dunn

editor@claremont-courier.com