HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — A man aged 70 has been taken into custody on charges of murdering a man over 40 years ago in Southern California, according to law enforcement officials.
Ronald Gaskey, who was 36 at the time of his death, was discovered in his Newport Beach home in December 1983. Despite thorough investigations, the case remained unresolved for decades until recently when detectives revisited the cold case.
The Newport Beach Police Department announced that new information led to the identification of a suspect from Huntington Beach, resulting in his arrest on Friday. The suspect is currently held on a bail amount of $1 million.
Details about what prompted the renewed investigation or the possible motives have not yet been disclosed. Gaskey was found deceased by a former girlfriend, who noticed his absence from work. Reports indicate he had sustained severe injuries from being struck on the head and face with a blunt instrument, as covered by local news sources.
In a retrospective article from 1983, Gaskey was depicted as someone extremely mindful of security, having taken considerable precautions to protect his residence. Neighbors remarked that it was unusual for him to leave his door unsecured, yet it was discovered unlocked.
At the time of the investigation, authorities dismissed robbery as a motive, stating that there were no signs of forced entry or disturbance within the home.
