Charges Filed in Murder of Calif. Mom, Ex-Hockey Player
An arrest has been made in the killings of California mom Wendi Miller and former professional hockey player Darren Partch, PEOPLE confirms.
A statement from the Newport Beach Police Department indicates Jamon Rayon Buggs, 44, was already behind bars on suspicion of two attempted residential burglaries in Irvine, California, on Thursday when he was formally charged with the double murders of Partch, 38, and Wendi Miller, 48.
Their bodies were found on Sunday inside Partch’s Newport Beach apartment.
The statement alleges Buggs committed the murders while burglarizing Partch’s condo, but does not include any details on how the slayings were allegedly carried out.
Buggs is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bail pending double murder charges. It was unclear Friday if he has a lawyer.
Newport Beach police were called to Partch’s home on Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
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According to police, the former professional athlete’s roommate returned to Partch’s condo to find the two bodies.
Miller, a mother of two from Costa Mesa, had been missing since late Friday night.
Reports indicate Miller drove Partch home Friday night after they left the Sandpiper Bar in Laguna Beach, where she was last seen.
Known throughout her community for her social justice advocacy, Miller was chief executive of Wings for Justice, a nonprofit that works to protect children in the family court system.
Partch worked as a finance and credit consultant, KABC reports. He played on several minor league hockey teams over the years, according to Pointstreak.com.
According to police, Buggs was arrested on Monday for his alleged connection to a series of attempted burglaries in Irvine.
During the first attempted burglary, the homeowner allegedly frightened Buggs off.
They allege Buggs fired his gun once as he fled the home early Saturday morning.
The second attempted burglary allegedly occurred Sunday morning after a homeowner’s review of his home surveillance footage showed a man had unsuccessfully tried to open his front door before running off.
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The statement provides no additional details concerning how Buggs came to be identified as the suspected killer.
A memorial service and visitation for Partch is scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary in Costa Mesa.
Police ask that anyone with any information regarding the murders or Buggs’ comings and goings over the weekend contact Detective Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797.
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