Soul Singer's Murderer Sentenced To Prison

SANTA ANA, CA — A homeless man was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for attempting to sexually assault and then killing a former soul singer who was sleeping at a Santa Ana strip mall.

Rosendo Xo Pec, 28, was convicted of murder, with a special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted rape, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said that in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2018, Pec killed Betty Jane Willis, a 1960s soul singer who recorded songs including "Someday You'll Need My Love," "Act Naturally" and "Take My Heart." She also worked with musicians including Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers.

Willis fell into homelessness after retiring from her job with the post office, prosecutors said.

Police who responded to the scene of the crime in the 1600 block of West First Street in response to a 911 call about a woman screaming found Pec hiding. He tried to run away but was quickly apprehended. Willis was lying on the ground when she was attacked.

"This woman had the voice of an absolute angel and it is a travesty that her voice was forever silenced in such a brutal way," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. "No one should have to suffer the indignity and disrespect she suffered in her final moments. I*m thankful the jury quickly and decisively determined that this individual was guilty of this horrific murder and that he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole."

City News Service