Murder Suspect Charged in Fatal Stabbings of Glendora Homeless Men

Double murder charges were filed today against a 28-year- old man accused in the stabbing deaths of two homeless men whose bodies were found at a Glendora car wash often frequented by transients at night.

Drew Friis of Glendora is also facing a special circumstances allegation of multiple murders, which could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made later in the case.

Friis was arrested Thursday, along with another suspect whose name was not released, in connection with the slayings of John Anthony Welch and Warren Jay Blagrave. Each victim was stabbed more than 20 times, authorities said.

While police expressed confidence about the arrests, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the second suspect at this time.

"We're confident that the two people who are in custody are the ones who committed this heinous crime," Glendora police Chief Rob Castro said Friday. "This was an isolated crime and a very unusual occurrence in Glendora as evidenced by the fact that we have not had a murder in our community since 2009. I firmly believe the community can be assured the suspects in this case are not roaming free."

Police also said they had recovered the suspected murder weapon.

The victims' bodies were found around 2 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of West Route 66 after a police lieutenant was flagged down by a person who had heard screaming in the area.

Glendora police described Welch and Blagrave as homeless people who frequented the area and suffered from addiction and mental health issues.

"While the victims were living on the street, I want to be clear that their lifestyle is not the cause of this tragic situation," Castro said last week. "Being homeless is not a crime. The murder of two innocent people is and we hold everyone involved accountable for their actions."

Friis was being held in lieu of $1 million bail and was expected to be arraigned this afternoon at the Pomona courthouse.

- City News Service