This just in: More guilty verdicts in Black Widows case

A jury today gave Los Angeles prosecutors an across-the-board win in the Black Widows case. Olga Rutterschmidt, 75, was found guilty on two final counts of murdering a second homeless man for millions in life insurance. Today's verdicts on murder and conspiracy charges were for the 1999 death of Paul Vados, 73. More details from The Times' Victoria Kim:

Last week, Rutterschmidt was convicted of murder and conspiracy for the 2005 death of Kenneth McDavid. Also last week, her co-defendant, Helen Golay, 77, was convicted of all four counts against her for the deaths of both men.The two men died in staged hit-and-run accidents, according to the prosecution. Their mangled bodies were found in alleys in Hollywood and Westwood. Both women face life in prison without possibility of parole.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[tedson]

These two women probably saw their alchoholic father or husbands in these homeless men. Nobody can be that evil. Of course, look how many people the Bushes have killed.

[AW]

"Bravo!" to Mark for informing us about the addiction and other mental health issues that afflict the homeless. And I agree that restitution to the groups that were injured is an excellent proposition.

To those of you compelled to call for the death penalty, "shame!" No one has the authority to kill or torture another creature, and torture includes life sentences. Think about it and grow compassionate.

[ladycascadia]

Pretty sick, those two! I watched that video where Ruttschmidt is chewing out Golay..and it blows my mind that NEITHER one of the seemed to have to gotten it that what they were doing was pure evil! I'm with another poster, they should be sentenced to the death penalty.

[marks]

These old birds are definately by-gone. What's more curious is the by-line on this article: "By a Times staff writer." Are times that tough in the newspaper business or is "a Times staff writer" worried he/she might be the next one to end up under a Mercury in a dark alley with Sam Zell behind the wheel?

[Robert]

GREED! If they had money, I wonder why do they have to step so low to kill someone for MORE!. Isn't human life worth something for these people?!

[Mark]

I worked as a homeless advocate for many years. Most of the homeless are addicts, and are mentally ill. Society is unable, and unwilling, to address either of these issues. Neither issue can be "voluntarily" treated by the patient, and society will not force treatment upon them (for cost and personal liberty reasons). So, they live in the shadows where they become victims of each other, and in this case, two wretched murderers.

[Mark]

Heartless. Greedy. Stupid. Two old ladies killing homeless for money when they had money. Wanted more. They did not realize that there was no perfect crime in this case: they left too many clues behind.

I would - if it is possible - take these two ladies all assets and donate it a homeless charity group.

[Gene Venable]

I don't think people generally starve to death in Los Angeles. I have been homeless and I have recently had less than $100 in the bank and no medical insurance, but I got medical care. It is true that there should be better care for the poor, but let's not exaggerate.

The two women are not only evil, but stupid. They should spend the rest of their lives in prison, and probably will.

[A]

What about the other people they killed? They had at least 8 other signature stamps in their possession. And what about their 94 year old boarder that was killed on Ocean Park by someone, "accidentally"? And what about their accomplice daughter, Kiesha?

[wertwer]

Agree with the poster who see the hypocrisy in this. So, only when murder is committed are the homeless lives 'valued'?
How many of them die as a result of collective civil neglect. Unthinkable. All the scorning hypocrites are here right at it wanting to feel all righteous about themselves. It probably includes those who wouldn't even spare a dime for a starving homeless. People are more interested in judging than helping or changing. It's all a self-serving process.

[John]

no one's starving the homeless to death. last time i checked, there is something called homeless shelters, food stamps, welfare programs, medicaid, and free treatment at hospital emergency rooms. if the homeless cannot get themselves together to take advantage of public assistance intended for them, perhaps we should be more proactive. but let's not falsely accuse the government of starving the homeless and denying them health care.

[john]

They will have all their worldly needs taken care of courtesy of the taxpayer for the rest of their miserable lives.Unlike the men they preyed upon who were living on the streets,penniless and vulnerable.Evil old hags.

[john]

They will have all their worldly needs taken care of courtesy of the taxpayer for the rest of their miserable lives.Unlike the men they preyed upon who were living on the streets,penniless and vulnerable.Evil old hags.

[pakunyontribyun]

Great police work, excellent jury deliberation!

[Keith]

We're civilized people in LA. It's alright to starve the homeless to death. To deny them healthcare. To let them live in the gutters to slowly die of exposure or random violence. That's natural and good. But killing them on purpose? That's just barbaric.

[Ethan]

Susan: "animalistic" ?

What animals commit crimes like this? NONE but humans. To call it animalistic is to insult the animal kingdom . . .

[Pablo]

Evil. Pure evil.

[jason]

you people and your god crap

[jason]

man you people remind me of the old west with your retributive rants. Isn't life in prison enough? Why do you want people to rot in hell? Why are you so angry?

[Diaz]

These two would make great wicked witches in a film.

[GeneTierney]

These two women are pure evil.

[Hank Rendon]

Rot in hell. scum

I feel no sympathy for these devils. They weren't crazy. They knew exactly what they were doing. Cold hearted and callous old broads.

[Paul]

Premeditated murder for profit...I think the death penalty is in order in this case. Don't you?

[Susan]

All I can say is that these women's heinous crimes are just plain disgusting . . . animalistic . . . monstrous. Shame on them, and they'd better get right with God, or they are in for eternal damnation.