Couple Arrested in Robbery, Beating Death of Arleta Woman

An Arleta man and his girlfriend were arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing a woman who was beaten with a stick and kicked during a robbery late Monday, police said.

Daniel Rattler, 30, and Kathy Clinard, 25, both of Arleta, were held without bail at the Van Nuys jail after detectives arrested the pair Thursday afternoon near Hawthorne, Los Angeles police Detective Mel Arnold said.

Police declined to say what led detectives to the suspects, who were arrested at a state Department of Social Services office, where they had gone to apply for welfare, Arnold said.

The victim, Dolores Jakus, 37, of Arleta, was found early Tuesday in front of a supermarket in the 8700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard in Sepulveda, Arnold said. She was taken to Panorama Community Hospital in critical condition and died of her injuries at 3 a.m. Thursday, Arnold said.

Jakus was at a friend’s house on the 14100 block of Roslyndale Court in Arleta on Monday night when two people beat her and robbed and severely beat her unidentified male companion, Arnold said.

Her friend escaped, but Jakus was taken to a spot near Sepulveda Boulevard and Parthenia Avenue in Sepulveda and attacked again, Arnold said.

“She was smacked with a stick at the first location and had the boots put to her at the second,” Arnold said.

Police said they believe she then wandered to the store about a block away, where she was found. According to police, Jakus was acquainted with the two suspects.

Rattler and Clinard are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Arnold said.