DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 08-07-25
In this week’s DA News Update, District Attorney Summer Stephan talks about the importance of National Night Out to help keep communities safe.
Tag Archive for: Summer Stephan
Two Men Sentenced in Elder Strangulation Homicide
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that two convicted murder defendants, Brendan Doyle and Luther Brown, have been sentenced to prison terms for killing 65-year-old Laura Doyle, the mother of defendant Brendan Doyle.
Both defendants were convicted in April 2024 of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Doyle, 36, was also convicted of identity theft and robbery. Doyle was sentenced to 28 years-to-life in prison last August 30. Brown was sentenced today to 55 years-to-life in prison.
“This is a disturbing and despicable case of murder of one’s own mother for financial gain,” DA Stephan said. “The dedicated team from our Elder Abuse Unit came together to hold these defendants accountable and deliver justice for the victim. It continues to be a priority for us to fight elder abuse in all its forms and support seniors who become victims of everything from online scams to the most serious violent acts.”
In 2019, Doyle entered his mother’s home and strangled her until she agreed to write him two checks in the amount of $1,000. He later met Brown and developed a plan to murder his mother to acquire her $1.5 million trust fund.
In October 2020, Ms. Doyle was found dead in her house with no obvious injuries. Neighbors contacted authorities and the District Attorney’s Office saying that if Ms. Doyle was dead, her son should be investigated. A police investigation ensued, and an autopsy was performed. It was determined that Ms. Doyle’s death was the cause of a brutal strangulation resulting in multiple fractures.
After the victim’s death, her son took her credit card and went on a shopping spree, spending more than $11,000. He was arrested in November 2020. Forensic evidence located inside the home, including DNA located on the clothing the victim was wearing at the time of her murder, linked Brown to the crime scene. Brown was a self-proclaimed “contract killer” and bragged to a roommate about killing someone for a friend back in fall of 2020. Brown was arrested in 2021. Search warrants of Brown and Doyle’s electronic devices and social media connected the two defendants. Specifically, communication between the two discussing Ms. Doyle and entry into her home leading up to the murder.
Doyle continues to litigate disbursement of his mother’s trust in probate court.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jaimie Thomas and expertly investigated by District Attorney Investigators.
DA Opposing Release of Two Violent Inmates Under Elder and Youthful Parole Laws
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that two defendants have been granted hearings before the Board of Parole tomorrow because of laws that allow early release for inmates under elder and youthful parole laws. The DA’s Office is vigorously opposing the release of both individuals—a convicted murderer and a self-confessed serial rapist.
Last year, the San Diego DA’s Office handled 136 hearings that were scheduled due to Youthful Parole, 202 hearings scheduled under elder parole, and 58 hearings that qualified pursuant to both early parole laws. That means 69% of the parole hearings were scheduled pursuant to elder and/or youthful parole last year.
“In many cases, new parole laws in California have undone the reassurance to murder and rape victims of justly imposed lengthy sentences and the promise of protection of our communities,” DA Stephan said. “In some cases, murderers and rapists get a chance at early parole under youthful parole laws and then have another chance at age 50 under ridiculous elder parole laws. Victims and survivors have zero early parole from their loss and trauma.”
Serial Rapist
Between 1993 and 1996, Robert Dean Rustad, known as the ‘Del Mar Rapist,’ broke into the residences of seven women and brutally sexually assaulted or raped six of them. Most victims were threatened at knifepoint and tied up; one was badly beaten. Rustad was between the ages of 19 and 22 when he committed the crimes and pleaded guilty to 39 criminal counts, including rape, forced oral copulation, sexual battery, false imprisonment, and residential burglary. Rustad received a sentence of 326 years and four months-to-life in 1997.
After a hearing in February 2024 to weigh his suitability for release, parole officials denied Rustad’s request and said he should not be up for consideration again for another three years. However, his next hearing was moved up pursuant to the Board of Parole Hearings’ Administrative Review process. He will receive special consideration at the hearing under the state’s elder parole law because he is 51-years-old and has spent more than 20 years in prison. The District Attorney’s Office is vigorously opposing Rustad’s parole and will do all it can under the law to keep him in prison.
“This defendant’s horrific actions and motivations for his serial rapes were sadistic and cruel and he has not accepted responsibility making him a serious threat to society,” said DA Stephan. “Justice was served last year with the board’s denial of early parole. Unfortunately, victims will once again suffer through the process of re-living their trauma in an attempt to keep this defendant behind bars.”
In 2020, Rustad was eligible for parole early through the state’s youthful parole law and was denied release for five years. Due to changes in the law, he is no longer eligible for youthful parole but is now eligible for elder parole. He was eligible again for the 2024 hearing by filing a petition to advance his hearing, which was granted. Two of Rustad’s victims were present at the 2024 hearing and gave powerful impact statements, leading to the three-year denial. Rustad has claimed his actions were driven by a desire for a girlfriend-type relationship.
Convicted Murderer
Aerith Asora (the defendant was prosecuted under different legal name) was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, along with the inmate’s sister and co-defendant Brae Hansen. The pair had hatched a plot to kill their stepfather, Timothy McNeil, for financial gain. Asora purchased black clothing at a Goodwill store before driving from Phoenix to McNeil’s home in San Diego. When MacNeil arrived home the day after his birthday, he had plans to take Hansen out to eat. Asora was already inside MacNeil’s home with Hansen. Asora put on a mask, was armed with a firearm and pretended to commit a robbery of McNeil and Hansen. Asora directed Hansen to zip tie MacNeil’s hands, and then Asora zip tied Hansen’s hands. McNeil asked to go to the restroom and managed to get free, struggling for his life before Asora shot him four times, including twice in the head at point blank range.
Asora was convicted of murder on April 15, 2009, and sentenced to 25 years-to-life in prison. Asora was 19 years old at the time of the murder. Under California’s youth parole law, nearly all defendants sentenced to 15 years or more for a crime that occurred before their 26th birthday are eligible for an advanced parole hearing before the parole board. There are narrow exceptions for sentences imposed under the Three Strikes Law.
“This was a callous, premeditated murder based in greed and the justly imposed lengthy sentence by the court, which weighed all the evidence, should be honored,” Stephan said. “While there may be cases where a defendant deserves a second chance based on their age at the time they committed a crime, this is most certainly not one of them. Releasing this inmate early would be an emotional gut punch to the victim’s loved ones.”
In 2024, there were 577 lifer parole hearings scheduled in San Diego County. Of those, 70 inmates received parole grants from the California Board of Parole Hearings. The remainder of the hearings –507– resulted in denials, postponements, or stipulations to a denial of parole.
The DA’s Lifer Hearing Unit, under the leadership of Deputy District Attorney John Cross, has two main goals: to ensure that dangerous prisoners with life sentences are not released carelessly or improvidently, and to ensure that crime victims and their families are given an opportunity to participate in the parole hearing process and have their voices heard. When a defendant is given a life sentence, the Lifer Hearing Unit processes the case to ensure that it is ready for future parole suitability hearings. This involves preserving victims’ statements and documenting the gravity of the crimes to ensure the offenders serve sentences proportional to their crimes.
In addition, the Lifer Hearing Unit tracks court activity on lifer cases and assists the Attorney General’s Office in opposing writs of habeas corpus seeking release. The Lifer Hearing Unit has submitted amicus briefs on behalf of the California District Attorneys Association on important cases and actively works on legislation concerning the parole hearing process. The Lifer Hearing Unit is the statewide leader in lifer matters and San Diego County serves as the training office for other prosecutors who seek to understand the complex laws governing parole hearings.
Six Veterans Graduate from Specialized Court Program Aiding Recovery and Reintegration
For some veterans, the transition to civilian life brings challenges—mental health struggles, substance abuse, and sometimes, involvement with the justice system. Veterans Treatment Court is a specialized but rigorous court program designed to help people move toward recovery. And last week, six individuals graduated from the program.
DA Stephan Testifies Before U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
San Diego County District Attorney and President of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) Summer Stephan testified today before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, urging swift Congressional action to combat the growing threat of organized retail crime (ORC) and transnational theft networks that are harming communities and businesses across the nation with commercial and residential thefts and burglaries. DA Stephan was called to testify as the voice for America’s prosecutors in her role as President/Chair of the National District Attorneys Association and for her expertise in combatting these organized crimes in San Diego County.
Watch a recording of the hearing here.
In her testimony, DA Stephan outlined the evolution of organized theft from isolated incidents into sophisticated, multi-state and international criminal enterprises responsible for billions in losses and threats to public safety. Drawing from her office’s successful prosecutions in San Diego County, Stephan emphasized that these crimes are far from victimless and require a coordinated, national response. DA Stephan brought the experience of the many victims such as employees of small and large businesses, and homeowners victimized by these sophisticated and at times violent criminal rings.
“Organized retail crime is not only eroding business and job stability but is also threatening the safety and well-being of our communities,” said DA Stephan. “From high-end smash-and-grabs to international burglary rings, we’re seeing an increase in violence and criminal sophistication that demands strong legislative and enforcement action.”
Stephan detailed her office’s proactive strategies in San Diego, including forming specialized teams to prosecute ORC, collaborating with the California Highway Patrol, and establishing partnerships through the Organized Retail Crime Alliance. Stephan emphasized the success of recent legislation in California which allows prosecutors to aggregate thefts and pursue more serious charges. At the national level, the NDAA has joined with the Retail Industry Leaders Association to launch initiatives like store walks and the Vibrant Communities Initiative, aimed at improving coordination and safety in retail environments. The DA also partnered with the U.S. Chamber and National Retail Federation to educate about effective prevention and prosecution.
Stephan called on Congress to pass the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA), which would establish a federal Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center to enhance national collaboration among prosecutors, law enforcement, and private sector stakeholders. She also called for enforcement of the INFORM Act that requires identification of third-party sellers to expose stolen properly online. Finally, DA Stephan stressed the importance of balanced prosecution strategies that differentiate between a young person who makes a mistake from a habitual criminal who preys on small businesses and neighborhoods. She advocated for the coordination center to link the dots to combat the organized crime and transnational criminal organizations that harm our nation.
In San Diego, the DA’s Office has prosecuted over 218 ORC defendants over the past two years, in partnership with law enforcement and retailers, involving theft losses of more than $2.6 million. Cases include multi-defendant smash-and-grab operations, repeat theft rings targeting national retailers, and transnational criminal networks responsible for multi-state burglaries and multi-million-dollar jewelry heists.
“Our experience shows that smart laws, real consequences, and close collaboration across jurisdictions work,” Stephan stated. “Now we need Congress to scale these efforts nationally so that no community is left vulnerable.”
Stephan also stressed the need for public-private partnerships to extend beyond enforcement and into prevention and education. She called for a national public awareness campaign to inform consumers about the impact of buying stolen goods, particularly through online marketplaces and informal venues like swap meets.
DA Stephan argued that just as robust laws and strategic prosecution are essential, so too is the active participation of consumers and community members in curbing organized retail theft. By combining legal tools, law enforcement coordination, and informed public engagement, Stephan concluded, communities can reclaim safety and economic vitality from the grip of organized crime.
New App to Find Shelter for the Homeless
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan just announced the regional expansion of Shelter Ready— an innovative mobile app designed to connect people experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter in real time. WATCH MORE in this video.
DA Stephan Denounces Dismantling of Human Trafficking Bill AB 379 by Assembly Public Safety Committee
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today strongly denounced the gutting of her sponsored human trafficking bill, AB 379, during a hearing of the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. The bill, which aimed to make the buying a 16 or 17-year-old child for sex a felony offense in California, was stripped of that critical provision in committee, despite overwhelming public support and increasing bipartisan concern over the exploitation of minors.
“This is a betrayal of the most vulnerable children in our state,” DA Stephan said “For over a decade, I have fought to make sure that those who buy children for sex are held fully accountable under the law. Buying children who under the law cannot consent to sex, can only be described as slavery. By gutting AB 379, the Assembly Public Safety Committee has sent a chilling message that the exploitation of children does not merit a serious penalty. Buying a 16-year-old for sex causes years of pain, disease and trauma, yet gets the same or less of a punishment in California than spray painting wall. This is not just a policy disagreement—it is an inhumane failure.”
The bill had garnered broad support from victim advocates, law enforcement, and community organizations, and was considered a key step forward in California’s ongoing fight against human trafficking. The bill’s author, Assemblymember Maggie Krell, has decades of experience fighting human trafficking and the bill relies on solid research that demonstrates that age 16 is the average age of recruitment of human trafficking victims in San Diego.
See video of the news conference announcing support of the bill, here.
DA Stephan has been a leading voice in the fight against human trafficking in California and across the nation. She pioneered the first human trafficking Special Victims Unit in San Diego County. Her office has prosecuted numerous high-profile trafficking cases and has worked with survivors to advocate for stronger laws that recognize the true harm caused by those who fuel the demand for the exploitation of children.
“California should be leading the nation in protecting children, not dragging its feet,” Stephan said. “We will not stop fighting. Survivors deserve better. Our children deserve better.”
AB 379 now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where there is a possibility that the bill can be amended again as it continues its journey. DA Stephan vows to continue pressing for legislative action that will close the loophole that doesn’t hold buyers of minor children responsible.
DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 03-13-25
In this week’s DA News Update, DA Summer Stephan discusses a high-profile murder sentence and the important reason for her recent trip to the nation’s capital.
One Safe Place Celebrates 2-Year Anniversary
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center in San Marcos, is celebrating its two-year anniversary and has released an Impact Report, which highlights the achievements and services offered at this state-of-the-art Family Justice Center. The report was released during a celebration at One Safe Place on Monday with more than 100 community partners, leaders and dignitaries in attendance. WATCH a video of the 2-year anniversary celebration below. Read more about the milestones accomplished by One Safe Place, here.
DA’s One Safe Place Hits Milestone of Supporting More Than 6,000 People in North County
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center in San Marcos, is celebrating its two-year anniversary and has released an Impact Report, which highlights the achievements and services offered at this state-of-the-art Family Justice Center. The report was released during a celebration at One Safe Place on Monday with more than 100 community partners, leaders and dignitaries in attendance.
Watch a video of the two-year anniversary celebration, here. You can read the complete Two-Year “Impact Report” for One Safe Place, here.
“For two years, One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center became a place for hope, healing and justice for over 6,000 victims and survivors including more than 2,000 children,” said DA Stephan. “Our collaboration with an unprecedented 107 community and government partners, especially Palomar Health and its nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center, allows us to meet the safety and health needs of every person who walks through our doors from help with trauma services, restraining orders, sexual assault and domestic violence examinations to connections with housing and jobs that allow victims to live with dignity and safety.”
Since opening on July 5, 2022, One Safe Place has supported more than 6,000 people, provided legal services to over 1,600 people, and received more than 14,000 calls to its helpline. The center serves as a community hub, where more than 23,000 people have taken part in various public safety-related events, trainings and meetings. One Safe Place provides support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced any type of crime or victimization. Currently, One Safe Place collaborates with some 107 community organizations and agencies from across the county.
The two-year history of services offered at One Safe Place include:
- Adult forensic examinations following a sexual assault, performed by trained health care professionals who assess a victim’s health care needs, coordinate treatment for any injuries, offer support and crisis intervention, and collect and document any potential evidence. More than 280 adult forensic evidentiary exams have been conducted.
- A nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center which has conducted more than 100 medical exams and 578 forensic interviews with children and teens since opening.
- Crime victims have received over 10,000 services including safety planning, resource navigation, hands-on assistance with applications for services, and more.
- Palomar Health Trauma Recovery Center therapists conducted 6,756 therapy sessions with children, teens, and adults.
- 1,358 individuals helped through a restraining order clinic.
- 440 crime victims were helped to obtain safe shelter and housing.
- One Safe Place provided food, clothing, shoes, and over 30,000 packs of diapers in our first two years.
The two-year anniversary celebration included formal remarks from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood, Palomar Health Executive for Strategic Planning Sheila Brown, and Mexican Consul General Alicia Kerber-Palma.
Three survivors who have received services at One Safe Place spoke at the ceremony, including Amy, who took part in a mentorship program called Pathways and a summer camp called Camp Hope, designed for children who have experienced trauma.
“Pathways events have helped me feel normal, when everything in my life at the moment was everything but normal,” Amy said. “One Safe Place has become my safe haven. I can confidently say I feel safe when I am here. Every single person here, with a simple hello, has made me feel valued.”
As part of the two-year anniversary celebration, a conference room was dedicated and named after Dr. Wilma Wooten, retired San Diego County Chief Public Health Officer and was named the “Dr. Wooten Health and Healing Collaboration Space.” Dr.Wooten was a champion for victims recognizing the importance of collaboration between public health and public safety professionals. The onsite Forensic Health Services Suite was also named the “Cathy McLennan Forensic Health Services Suite” named after the late Cathy McLennan, a nationally recognized forensic interviewer from Palomar Health who dedicated her career to the protection of children.
One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center is located at 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92069. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the first Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.