Artist Charged In Girlfriend's Murder In Orange County

SANTA ANA, CA — A 39-year-old Santa Ana artist was charged Tuesday with killing his live-in girlfriend.

Prentis John Hill could face up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted of murder with a sentencing enhancement allegation for the personal use of a deadly weapon.

Police responded to a domestic violence call at the apartment the defendant shared with Shannon Pearce Likens at 316 W. Fourth St. just after 11:30 a.m., Saturday, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

When police arrived at the apartment complex catering to artists, no one answered the door at the couple's unit. Neighbors reported a loud conflict and said the suspect fled the building before the officers' arrival, Bertagna said. Police found the 38-year-old victim on the floor, bleeding, but have not disclosed the cause of her death.

Police caught up with Hill about 7 p.m. Saturday when he walked into the emergency room at College Hospital in Costa Mesa, Bertagna said.

The victim, who had three children, had a history of suicide attempts and drug and alcohol abuse, according to court filings by her ex-husband.

In September 2013, James Robert Likens IV filed for a temporary restraining order against his then-estranged wife, in which he described a chaotic scene in which she tried to pull their toddler child from his arms, ultimately triggering a call to the police.

He alleged that she had "a history of mental problems, and a problem with prescription pills," and had to be hospitalized for psychiatric reasons multiple times.

Likens had a supervised visit with their son and daughter, who are now 8 and 6, respectively, on Christmas Eve last year, he said in April, but had not requested another visit since.

The ex-spouse added in his court filing that her "current boyfriend sent a video of (Shannon Likens) showing her clearly impaired in the middle of the day and unable to care for herself, let alone three children."

City News Service

Renee Schiavone photo