Arrests Made In Casino Winner's Murder
SANTA ANA (AP) — Prosecutors charged three people Friday in the robbery and killing of a man who had just cashed in $10,000 in winnings at a Southern California casino.
Tad Allen Carroll, 41, Barbara Ann Hamel, 47, and Michael William Ross, 26, each were charged with felony counts of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery, second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree robbery, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Santa Ana police arrested Carroll and Hamel on Thursday, and authorities issued a warrant Friday for Ross.
The statement said that on Sept. 3, Ross was in the Hawaiian Gardens Casino, watched 55-year-old Chi Ngoc Bui cash in and leave,then called Carroll and Hamel.
The pair caught up with Bui at the Orange County home of a woman he was dropping off, tried to rob him at knifepoint, then ran over his head as they fled in their car, the statement said.
Ross and Carroll also were charged in a similar robbery in June.
Prosecutors said Ross saw a man cash in $5,000 at the same casino, and Carroll followed him to his Los Angeles home and robbed him.
That victim was not hurt.
Carroll, whose last known address was Buena Park, and Hamel, of Long Beach, remained in custody Friday.
Prosecutors planned to ask that they be held without bail.
Authorities were looking for Ross, who is also from Long Beach.
All three suspects face a minimum of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on all counts. Prosecutors planned an arraignment for next week. It was not clear if any of the suspects had retained attorneys.
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