Authorities arrested a 39-year-old suspect after a 92-year-old millionaire developer was found dead inside his Southern California beachfront home following a hours-long SWAT standoff, the Hermosa Beach Police Department reported.
Standoff Begins During Welfare Check
Police responded to a welfare check call Saturday just after 12:30 p.m. at a residence on the 500 block of The Strand after the elderly resident had not been seen for several days. When officers entered the property with a property manager, they encountered a barricaded individual who claimed to be armed and refused to cooperate. SWAT teams and crisis negotiators from multiple agencies arrived to manage the situation.
The suspect surrendered to police approximately seven hours later, reportedly wearing a black suit and tie, fedora, and sunglasses.
Victim Identified and Investigation Underway
Following a search warrant, authorities found the body of Demetrius Doukoullos, the 92-year-old developer who lived alone at the property. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed the victim’s identity but has deferred the official cause of death pending further investigation. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has taken over the case.
Law enforcement sources indicated the victim’s body showed signs of decomposition upon discovery. The suspect, identified in jail records as Elanor Beaulieu (also booked under the name Robert Phillip Simmons), is held on suspicion of murder with bail set at just over $2 million. The relationship between the suspect and victim has not been publicly disclosed, and no motive has been determined.
Community Concerns and Next Steps
Residents reported to a local Facebook group that concerns arose due to the resident’s absence for about a week and a strong odor emanating from the home, though these claims remain unverified. Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Additional details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
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