Man Found Guilty In Bludgeoning Death Of La Crescenta Man

LA CRESCENTA, CA – A Gardena man was convicted Tuesday of bludgeoning a 73-year-old La Crescenta man to death nearly three years ago. David Xavier Bushman, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the July 2015 killing of Arthur George Palmer, according to Deputy District Attorney Ryan Erlich, who said the victim's stepfather was the defendant's great uncle.

Jurors also found true an allegation that Bushman used a mallet in the commission of the crime.

Palmer was found dead on the first floor of his home in the 3000 block of Frances Avenue on July 24, 2015, and Bushman's DNA was found on the mallet next to the victim's body, Erlich said.

Sheriff's deputies went to Palmer's house to check on his welfare after a neighbor reported that he had not seen or heard from the man for a while. Authorities could not determine if anything had been taken from the home, where Palmer lived alone, according to the prosecutor.

Bushman is due back in a Pasadena courtroom for sentencing May 24. He faces up to 58 years to life in state prison, according to the prosecutor.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock