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(Photos- Click on the hyperlink at the bottom of this message to see a photo of Edna and George Darrow, and a 2007 photo of the man convicted of their murder, Donald Phillips)


On April 19, 1987, Edna,72, and George Darrow,78, were found stabbed to death in their Huntington Park home on the 3300 block of Live Oak Street.

Huntington Park Police officers discovered the victims deceased in their home during a check of their well-being when family became concerned about their whereabouts.

Back in 1987 a single fingerprint was found and a match was made to a man named Donald Phillips, but at the time this single print was not enough to prosecute the suspect.

Phillips maintained his innocence and provided an alibi as to why his print would be in the residence. Shortly after being interviewed, Phillips moved to the state of New York with his girlfriend.

Years later this case received a huge break when Sheriff’s Cold Case Homicide Investigator Steve Davis was able to identify additional witnesses who corroborated the evidence and discredited Phillip’s original statements to investigators.

Phillips was arrested in 2006 in Palmdale for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Darrow. Phillips remained in the Los Angeles County jail until 2011 when the case was finally able to go to trial in a case prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 24 years after the murders, Phillips was found guilty of murdering Mr. and Mrs. Darrow by a jury in Norwalk Superior Court.

Although not yet sentenced for the murders, at age 45, Phillips is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for first degree murder in the commission of a robbery. His next court date in December 12, 2011. He is being held without bail.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators had learned that Phillips had done construction work for the couple in the past, and knew they had money hidden in the home because they had paid him in cash. Investigators learned that what began as a robbery, ended in murder.


The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Darrow, Edna “Eva” Hare was in court when the verdict was read. She was extremely thankful to Detective Davis for never giving up on finding justice for her parents by apprehending and prosecuting the killer of her parents.


Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau investigators are known as “The Bulldogs” because of their tenacious police work. From the time they are called to the murder scene, until the prosecutors get the case through the courts, they never let go. The motto of the Sheriff's Cold Case Homicide Unit is 'Time is on our side.’ Homicide cases are never closed until they are solved.


Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
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Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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(Photos- Click on the hyperlink below)