San Pedro woman killed walking home from church on Christmas Eve

Eva Tice

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Eva Tice had looked forward to Christmas this year. A family adopted the disabled 60-year-old woman and her roommate, providing her a tree that sat decorated atop a table in their San Pedro apartment.

"She was very excited for Christmas," Los Angeles police Detective Patty Batts said. "She hadn't had a Christmas tree for many years. ... She was very excited about a small little duck hanging on the

The rubber duck hangs on Eva Tice's Christmas tree. (LAPD Detective Patty Batts)

tree. She thought it was real pretty."

Tice, who had a mental capacity that varied from a 6-year-old girl to a young woman, had lived a difficult life. She became a ward of the state as a young child when her parents were killed in a car wreck.

Without family to care for her, social workers and caregivers took over, helping Tice to live independently. She was married for many years to another mentally disabled man.

He died six months ago, about the time she moved into her latest apartment on 12th Street, not far from her beloved church, Hope Chapel, where she recently was baptised.

"She was an usher at the church," Batts said. "She really wanted to help. She would always come to the Friday dinners, the Saturday garage sales. She would always come to Sunday services."

And then there was Christmas.

"She was excited about the Christmas season," a pastor said. "She was even more joyful than usual. She had a great smile on her face, looked very rested and was excited to celebrate Christmas."

Her Bible in hand, Tice walked to Hope Chapel for the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service on Saturday.

"She was very kind, enjoyed interacting with people and and enjoyed serving God," the pastor said.

The service ended about 7 p.m. Tice, who had recovered from a recently broken hip, headed home.

Police are not sure what happened next. Residents who heard moaning found Tice on the sidewalk on Pacific Avenue, covered with blood, her Bible at her side.

Batts said detectives know she walked along Pacific from 9th Street. Someone assaulted her between 11th and 12th streets.

Witnesses saw a man running away.

The assailant stabbed Tice multiple times, Batts said. She died at a hospital.

Detectives suspect the motive was robbery, but do not know if he took anything.

"It's Christmas Eve," Batts said. "She's coming from a church service carrying her Bible. She is

mentally disabled, physically disabled, all of 4-foot-11 and somebody assaults her. For what? I don't know at this time. All they had to do is just take it from her."

The crime has shaken congregants at her church, including a female pastor, who did not want her name published for fear of retaliation from a killer nobody knows.

"She attended church every week," the pastor said. "She was a sweet gal."

A worship leader mentioned her death during Christmas services on Sunday, but no one knew the circumstances.

"We are very disappointed that this has happened," the pastor said. "We hope that the person is found as quick as possible."

Detectives who have little to go on believe somebody must have seen

Eva Tice's Christmas tree. (LAPD Detective Patty Batts)

something that can help them find a something.

"We need the public's help," Batts said. "When we watch video from the surrounding businesses, we can see heavy vehicle traffic in both directions. We can see pedestrian traffic."

A busy bar is located at 11th Street and Pacific.

Batts asked anyone with information to call her at 310-726-7889 or Detective David Alvarez at 310-726-7879.

"I know people saw things," the detective said.

larry.altman@dailybreeze.com

Follow Larry Altman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/larryaltman

Source: http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_19633030?source=rss_viewed

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