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Steeling themselves

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(Norma Lorena Rodriguez’s two children, Daniel (top) and Mireya Valenzuela, reacted similarly to a Channel 62 news reporter who questioned them about their mother’s murder at a news conference Wednesday in Inglewood. Both took long breaths before speaking, stood rigid, and answered mechanically, in quiet voices. Mireya Valenzuela nearly lost her composure for one brief second. Asked about her childhood with her mother, she teared up, pressed her lips together, squeezed her eyes with her hand, stared into the distance for a moment, and then set her jaw and finished the interview as if nothing had happened.)

Inglewood Police on Wednesday appealed for the public’s help in locating the third suspect in a robbery-double homicide case that took the life of real-estate agent Norma Lorena Rodriguez, 48, and insurance salesman Joel Perez. The killings took place Sept. 26 in the office the pair shared at 415 W. Manchester Boulevard.

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Two Latino suspects, a 16-year-old and a 26-year-old, have been arrested, and face murder robbery and kidnapping charges in the case. A third suspect, 24-year-old Julius Laulu, right, remains at large, and may be in the Salt Lake City area. He is considered armed and dangerous. Inglewood police are at (310) 412-5246.

Update: Suspect Julius Laulu was captured in Provo, Utah on Nov. 19. Authorities said a relative saw mention of him on the latimes.com website, and called police to say his nephew was in the house. The police came, and called the relative, who sent Laulu out to turn himself in. He is being held without bail, and faces extradition.

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