Double Murder Suspect Steals Car, Escapes

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He's armed, he's dangerous and he's on the run.

Brent D. Zubek, 43, is the sole suspect in a double murder. Decomposing bodies of a man and woman were found Saturday in a Chatsworth trash bin at a house on the 20400 block of Lassen Street. Their names and relationship to Zubek have not been released by police.

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KTTV said that police were alerted after neighbors smelled a foul odor coming from the property. "It was so strong," one neighbor said. Zubek told her, "I killed a raccoon."

"He has always had a weapon, machete or gun at his side," she said.

By Saturday night, police had Zubek under surveillance and followed him to the Hometown Inn on Sepulveda Boulevard in North Hills, according to a KABC-TV report.

They trailed him when he drove away, but at that point he evaded the plain clothes officers, "through a series of maneuvers," said LAPD Capt. Chris Pitcher.

Zubek ditched his 2010 Ford F-150 pickup with Arizona plates Sunday in a Sherman Oaks Gelson's parking lot.

He then smashed the driver-side window of a silver or gray 2011 Nissan Versa and continued his flight. The car has black and gold paper plates reading Universal City Nissan, according to police radio. He reportedly fled eastbound on Ventura Boulevard at approximately 12:20 p.m.

And KCBS-TV is reporting that a couple renting two rooms in the  house said the murder victims were killed in their baby's bedroom. Video showed visible stains and markings on the tile floor.

Zubek had reportedly been living in the house which was sold July 8 in a foreclosure auction. At various times it had been a childcare center and a senior care home.

Zubek, the father of three grown children, has served prison time for a string of bank robberies. A 1992 story in the Los Angeles Times said the FBI called him a member of the "Hole-in-the-Wall Gang" because the gang would knock through walls to access banks. He was 24 at the time.

Sunday, members of his family publicly pleaded for him to surrender "before this thing goes terribly wrong." He was last seen wearing a black shirt, khaki shorts and a baseball cap.

Police asked anyone with information on Zubek to call 9-1-1 or contact Devonshire Homicide Detectives at 818-832-0609, or after hours at 877-527-3247. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to  274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) on a cell phone. Tipsters can  also go to the webtips section on LAPDOnline.org.