Trial Begins For OC Man Accused Of Killing Longtime Girlfriend, 72

SANTA ANA, CA — A 67-year-old man beat his longtime live-in girlfriend to death in their Anaheim mobile home with such force that her injuries appeared to be from a traffic crash, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday, while the defendant's attorney said there wasn't enough evidence to prove he killed her.

Raymond Eugene Craft is charged with murder and inflicting injury on an elder adult, both felonies, with a sentencing enhancement for death of a victim older than 70.

Craft is accused of killing 72-year-old Deborah Brutsche on Feb. 24, 2024.

"He was her longtime boyfriend," Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney told jurors in his opening statement of the trial. "They had been together for about 32 years."

Birney said it was likely the evidence will point to second-degree murder.

"I think it's more likely an implied malice case," Birney said.

Someone concerned about Brutsche called police Feb. 26 of last year and when officers arrived at 41 Spruce Via in the Rancho La Paz mobile home park, they were greeted by a "somewhat intoxicated" Craft, who was getting into the couple's car, Birney said.

When the officers asked him about Brutsche, "He tells the officers, `She's been dead for a couple of days,"' Birney said.

The officers found the victim in the kitchen of the home covered by a blanket, Birney said. The victim was "badly bruised," and the defendant's hand was swollen, Birney added.

Police also recovered videos and photos from the defendant's phone showing the victim's injuries, Birney said.

An autopsy showed she suffered broken ribs, lacerations to her liver and injuries to her pancreas and spinal cord. The injuries were "consistent with a high-speed traffic collision," Birney said.

The prosecutor added that Brutsche "died of being beaten to death by Mr. Craft."

Craft's attorney, Allison Chan of the Orange County Public Defender's Office, told jurors there was no confession or evidence that anyone saw Craft beating the victim. She also said there was no evidence "to show a shoe or heel impression" to prove the victim was stomped as the prosecution alleged.

Brutsche had "medical issues," such as a stroke and osteoporosis, Chan said.

"The evidence is not going to show where this happened," Chan said. "Just that she was found there."

In the end, jurors "will not be able to find (the prosecution) has proven beyond a reasonable doubt" that Craft is guilty, Chan said.

By PAUL ANDERSON, City News Service