A suspect was arrested after authorities found a man and a woman dead in California.
Jamon Rayon Buggs, 44, was taken into custody on April 15 in connection with the double homicide in Newport Beach.
Wendi Miller, 48, and Darren Partch, 38, a former professional hockey player, were found dead in a condominium on April 22.
Buggs was already in custody at the Orange County Jail on unrelated charges stemming from a series of burglaries he allegedly committed in the Irvine area on April 20 and April 21, the Newport Police Department said. It wasn’t clear how police linked him to the murders, reported the Los Angeles Times.
Buggs, a personal trainer, was charged on April 23 with four felony counts and one misdemeanor in connection with the attempted burglaries.
NEWPORT BEACH HOMICIDES: Police investigating after discovery of bodies of Darren Partch, 38, Newport Beach & OC mom Wendi Miller, 48, Costa Mesa in #NewportBeach home. @NewportBeachPD @ABC7 11pm #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/lAuG4gwAj2
— Eileen Frere (@abc7eileen) April 23, 2019
Miller’s son, Luke Carpenter, posted on Facebook and said that his mother had been shot.
“She had been shot and it was told to us that she did not suffer. The police are still investigating all the details,” Carpenter said.
Miller was a community advocate who started Wings for Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for children in court. She also helped women who were leaving violent partners.
On its website, Wings for Justice says that “we protect children in the family court system and advocate for change.”
“The family court system today is not upholding the laws created to govern it, causing injustices and children to suffer within the system,” it added.
First of all I want to say thank you for all the love and support from everyone. It’s way more than I could ever hope…
Posted by Luke Carpenter on Monday, April 22, 2019
Carpenter described Miller as a loved person. “I have no doubt in my mind that she was loved on earth and I’m happy that she gets to be loved even better in heaven. I love you mom,” he said.
Neighbors said Miller was a sweet lady.
“She was a Christian and a really sweet lady who would do anything for you,” neighbor Terri Rawson told KTLA. “It’s shocking and heartbreaking that she won’t be with us. I’m really going to miss her because she’s a great neighbor.”
A family friend added on a GoFundMe page for Miller’s family, “She believed in her mission to help others, that went through similar life experiences with an unfair family court system and no matter how tough life got for her, she always stayed positive, had a strong faith and never gave up!”
They said that Miller was giving Partch a ride home after they spent time together late Friday into Saturday at the Sandpiper Bar in Laguna Beach. Miller and Partch lived a few blocks away from each other.
Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Heather Rangel said that an investigation was ongoing but that there were no signs of a break-in.
“We do know that the house was secure and there was no forced entry,” Rangel told the Orange County Register.
Rangel said the relationship between Miller and Partch was unclear.
A violent end to the life of a woman who dedicated herself to preventing violence and protecting children. 48-year old Wendi Miller and her friend, 38-year old Darren Partch were found murdered in a Newport Beach condo. https://t.co/9CCBnhRbul
— Oscar Flores (@oflores) April 23, 2019
Partch was a former pro hockey player who was retired.
After retirement, Partch worked as an account executive for Atrinsic, a New York City-based digital marketing company, according to his LinkedIn page.
“Darren was a great guy. My first interaction with him, he was very calming, he’s very likeable,” friend James Kwast told ABC 7. He said that Miller was giving a Partch a ride home.
“They hit it off. They had a great time down in Laguna Beach. He needed a ride home. She was known for giving people rides home whenever they needed it,” Kwast said.