People v. Griffin CA3

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

The victim and her cat lived in the Mercy Senior Housing Complex in Folsom. She had a habit of leaving her front door unlocked and sometimes ajar, even at night, so the cat could come and go. At the time of her death a few days before Christmas 2009, the victim was still recovering from a neck injury for which she wore a cervical collar. In 2009, defendant worked as a driver for Rapid Response medical transport company. One of his clients was the victim’s neighbor, Constance Blassingame, who lived two doors away from the victim. Twice a week defendant arrived around 5:00 a.m., parked, and walked past the victim’s apartment to Ms. Blassingame’s door. This service ended in early November 2009. On Saturday, December 19, 2009, the victim spent the day with her friend, Tamara O’Reilly. O’Reilly recalled dropping the victim home around 9:00 p.m. and later receiving a message that the victim had called, but no one answered the phone when O’Reilly called back Sunday morning around 11:00 a.m. A police detective testified O’Reilly told him she tried to call the victim Saturday night but no one answered. The victim’s computer was turned on at 8:09 p.m. and off at 10:50…