Man charged with murder, attempted rape in Santa Ana slaying of homeless woman who was ’60s soul singer
By Theresa Walker
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2018 at 4:12 pm | UPDATED: January 4, 2018 at 11:36 am
SANTA ANA – A 22-year-old transient was charged Wednesday, Jan. 3, with killing and attempting to rape a 76-year-old homeless woman who recorded songs in the 1960’s for legendary Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector.
Rosendo Xo Pec, 22, of Santa Ana, was arrested around 4:15 a.m. Monday shortly after the slaying of Betty Jane Willis, who was found dead in a commercial parking lot at 1605 W. First St., Santa Ana Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Police believe that the victim did not know the suspect.
Pec is accused of removing Willis’ blanket and attempting to rape her, prosecutors said Wednesday. Willis began screaming for help, and then Pec allegedly punched her multiple times in the head and choked her, prosecutors said.
Police have declined to comment on the specific cause of Willis’ slaying pending an autopsy.
Willis, who grew up in Fresno, came to Santa Ana in the early 1960s and pursued a singing career with modest success. Her recordings for a subsidiary of Spector’s Philles Records label were produced by singer/songwriter Leon Russell at Hollywood’s legendary Gold Star Studio. In addition to a half-dozen recordings that were released, Willis sang at nightclubs in the local area and in Los Angeles.
Willis never hit it big and left her singing career behind to raise her daughter in Orange County. She ended up working for the U.S. Postal Service in Santa Ana for about 20 years, taking early retirement in the 1990s. Willis had been living on the streets in southwest Santa Ana for more than a decade by her own choice, according to a family member.
Early Wednesday, police received multiple 911 calls as Willis shouted for help. When officers arrived, Pec was on top of Willis, who was nude from the waist down, Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney said.
Nearby security video captured the attack, he said, adding that Pec is an immigrant from Guatemala who came to the U.S. four years ago.
Pec faces one count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for attempted rape. The enhancement makes Pec eligible for the death penalty.
SCNG staff writer Kelly Puente contributed to this report.
