GUILTY CA - Paul Flores Camarillo, 86, Phelan, 22 December 2007

Following a jury trial, defendant Roy Randall Gustafson was convicted of one count of first degree murder... He was sentenced to state prison for a total term of 150 years to life...

Camarillo, who was about 86 years of age, lived alone on Sage Street in a rural area of Phelan. He was known to carry large amounts of cash, $800 to $1,000, in his pocket. In August 2007, Camarillo hired defendant as a handyman and allowed defendant to live on his property in a two-bedroom building behind his residence. In November or December 2007, defendant stopped working for Camarillo, who was last seen alive on December 22 by a neighbor, Lindy Moore. In January 2008, Moore became concerned about Camarillo. She had not seen him at home...

Defendant's cell phone showed a failed text message dated December 29, 2007, at 7:38 p.m. The message said, "Paul came after me with a masheddy [sic] because I stole $300 from him." In another message dated the same day, defendant repeated the same message, with the addition, "I love ya, momma."

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