Third-striker parolee convicted of murdering a 21-year-old woman in his RV

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF0072

Date: February 4, 2015

THIRD-STRIKER PAROLEE CONVICTED OF STRANGLING-MURDER OF WOMAN IN RV

SANTA ANA – A third-striker parolee was convicted today of murdering a 21-year-old woman by strangling her to death in his recreational vehicle (RV). Ean Keith Brown, 41, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder. The defendant has two prior strike convictions and serious felony priors for second degree robbery in 1995 and burglary in 2008. The Court will hear a bifurcated trial on the defendant’s prior strike convictions onFeb. 27, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Brown faces a maximum sentence of 55 years to life in state prison if convicted of the prior strike offenses.

Brown was released from state prison in 2010 and was on parole for burglary. After his release from prison and at the time of the murder, the defendant lived in an RV in the driveway of his parent’s Huntington Beach home.

Victim Dolores “Arias” Fagan, 21, was staying with relatives who lived on the same street as the defendant. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2012, Fagan left her family’s home and was never seen again.

Sometime between Jan. 6, 2012, and Jan. 8, 2012, Brown murdered Fagan in his RV by strangling her and stuffing her body in a sleeping bag.

On or about Jan. 8, 2012, Brown’s parents became suspicious and contacted the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) to request officers inspect the RV. HBPD, who investigated this case, responded to the scene and discovered Fagan’s body. Brown was not home at the time.

Several hours after Brown’s parents contacted HBPD, the defendant was located driving northbound on Interstate 15 toward the Nevada border by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol. Brown led pursuing officers on a high-speed chase, but was ultimately arrested and turned over to HBPD.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718