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Three charged in murder of local man
By ROY N. KENT
Three females – two adult and one teen – have been arrested and are facing capital murder charges for their alleged role in the death of a Pasadena businessman.
Dannette Gillespie, 38; Vanessa Anne Ocampo, 19; and the 15-year-old daughter of Gillespie have all been arrested in connection with the death of Eugene Palma, 75, of Pasadena.
About 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Pasadena Police Department received a call regarding a man lying face down in front of his residence in the 2800 block of Dewberry. Palma was found stabbed to death in his driveway. He suffered numerous stab wounds to his front torso and back.
Palma was the owner of Gene’s Better Times, formerly Ace of Clubs and later Brewskies at 5923 Spencer Highway.
According to a police department news release, “preliminary assessment of evidence at the scene indicated that the decedent, a local club owner, was initially the victim of an early morning robbery that culminated in his death.”
Police investigators used physical evidence and testimony to determine that the three females did not know Palma.
Gillespie and her daughter were arrested locally while Ocampo was arrested in San Antonio. Gillespie’s local address, at an apartment complex at 3200 Federal Road, is less than a mile from where Palma was killed.
All three suspects were in custody by 2 p.m. Friday, police officials reported.
Gillespie’s and Ocampo’s cases are currently assigned to Judge Belinda Hill’s 230th District Court. The 15-year-old’s case is assigned to Judge John Phillips’ 314th Juvenile Court. No court dates have yet been set.
All three are charged with capital murder and no bond has been set.
Anyone with additional information on this case is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 713-477-1221.
Dannette Gillespie, 38; Vanessa Anne Ocampo, 19; and the 15-year-old daughter of Gillespie have all been arrested in connection with the death of Eugene Palma, 75, of Pasadena.
About 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Pasadena Police Department received a call regarding a man lying face down in front of his residence in the 2800 block of Dewberry. Palma was found stabbed to death in his driveway. He suffered numerous stab wounds to his front torso and back.
Palma was the owner of Gene’s Better Times, formerly Ace of Clubs and later Brewskies at 5923 Spencer Highway.
According to a police department news release, “preliminary assessment of evidence at the scene indicated that the decedent, a local club owner, was initially the victim of an early morning robbery that culminated in his death.”
Police investigators used physical evidence and testimony to determine that the three females did not know Palma.
Gillespie and her daughter were arrested locally while Ocampo was arrested in San Antonio. Gillespie’s local address, at an apartment complex at 3200 Federal Road, is less than a mile from where Palma was killed.
All three suspects were in custody by 2 p.m. Friday, police officials reported.
Gillespie’s and Ocampo’s cases are currently assigned to Judge Belinda Hill’s 230th District Court. The 15-year-old’s case is assigned to Judge John Phillips’ 314th Juvenile Court. No court dates have yet been set.
All three are charged with capital murder and no bond has been set.
Anyone with additional information on this case is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 713-477-1221.
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Reader Comments
4321 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:39 PM:
" I am so sorry to hear about the untimely death of Gene. I have worked with Gene at the Pasadena Convention Center for a number of years. He has helped me when I needed help and I helped him when he needed help. I sometimes sit and think about the times I spent at work with Gene, the good times and the bad time and the memories that go along with it.
When I left the city Gene bought me my going away lunch and he wished me all the luck. He will be missed by all who know him. Gene has touched me in a way that I can not explain and although I have not seen him in a number of years his impression on me has lasted all these years and will last a lifetime.
Your in my prayers, God bless
Rev. Kevin Kaizer "
When I left the city Gene bought me my going away lunch and he wished me all the luck. He will be missed by all who know him. Gene has touched me in a way that I can not explain and although I have not seen him in a number of years his impression on me has lasted all these years and will last a lifetime.
Your in my prayers, God bless
Rev. Kevin Kaizer "
kdwhalen wrote on Sep 6, 2008 8:03 AM:
" I read about Gene today. I worked for Gene at Sizzler Steak House in the 1970's. He would hire from the local high school co-op departments to help the students. I worked for him for over two years, even at his steak house in Clear Lake. He was one of the best bosses I ever had; always willing to help anyone that was in need. He never turned down any request that I made. He was a family man, his father, that we all called Grandpa came in and worked at Sizzler when he was able I remember his wife, Marge, bringing in her homemade pies and his young son coming in to see Dad. Gene was full of class. I will always remember him fondly. "
robert_richey wrote on Sep 6, 2008 12:46 PM:
" They should charge the 15 year old as an adult. When i was 15 i knew it was wrong to kill just as much as i do now. Give all three the death penalty! Make them walk through Gene’s Better Times front doors on a Friday or Saturday night and justice will be done. R.I.P Gene "
1234 wrote on Sep 6, 2008 7:43 PM:
" I am very sad to hear about Mr. P. as we all who worked with him @ Sizzler liked to call him. I worked there for a number of years and then a few years later, I helped him work the consession stand @ the Pasadena Convention Center. I don't remember him ever having anything negative to say about anyone. He will be missed by those whom he has touched with his smile and kind heart.
Mr P., I love you and you will always be in my heart. God bless you and your family.
Rosa "
Mr P., I love you and you will always be in my heart. God bless you and your family.
Rosa "
Mitzi1957 wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:06 AM:
" Pasadena has really gone downhill. I lived there for 20 years. All 3 of my children graduated from Rayburn HS. It used to be a great place to live. My deepest sympathy goes out to the Palma family. What a terrible tragedy! "
maihilahila35 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:55 PM:
" I went to jr. high with Dannette. All I will say is karma has a way of catching up with you eventually. "
cmftmo wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:32 PM:
" I can not believe this has happened to such a wonderful man. Gene was one of a kind. He was the type that if you were hungry, he fed you. He always did for others. Gene, you will be missed by so many. My heart goes out to the family. I'm glad I got to work with him at the Convention Center. May God comfort all the loved ones. C. Fontenot & children "
kentexian_2000 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:10 AM:
" I did not know Mr. Parma personally, but I extend my sympathies to the Parma family and friends. It seems that all too often, an exceptionally good person becomes a victim of crime such as this. What makes even less sense is that these types of crimes usually end up netting just a few dollars, if anything at all.
I strongly believe in the death penalty, and think it should be applied swiftly against all three of these suspects when they are convicted. This includes the 15 year old - enough to kill, old enough to die for it... Who knows, this probably isn't their first victim if they did this so boldly to begin with. "
I strongly believe in the death penalty, and think it should be applied swiftly against all three of these suspects when they are convicted. This includes the 15 year old - enough to kill, old enough to die for it... Who knows, this probably isn't their first victim if they did this so boldly to begin with. "
kentexian_2000 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:13 AM:
" Forgot to mention... I agree 110% with Mitzi about Pasadena going downhill. It used to be the best (in my opinion) place to live, whether you were upper, middle, or lower class. Crime wasn't ever a real problem until the last decade or so - especially since the influx of illegals took place. "
kricket701 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:36 PM: