Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Glendale Murder #2: Michelle Levin, 35*


Michelle Levin, 35. Here she is with her husband John, who is suspected of murdering her (and their dog) with a knife. Police found Michelle's body on Friday at their apartment in the 200 block of West Fairview Avenue. John went missing, and was apprehended by Border Protection agents at the Canadian border. Here's a picture of John from his Facebook profile.

from the News-Press:
The Los Angeles County district attorney on Monday charged John Levin with one count of murder, identifying the weapon as a knife. He was also charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

In an announcement from U.S. Customs, officials noted that John Levin’s wrists “were injured and oozing blood” at the time he was taken into custody.

Glendale police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said it appeared as if Michelle Levin had been dead for several days when discovered. Police officers responded to the scene after receiving a call from someone concerned about the pair’s whereabouts, he added.

“The evidence and investigation lead us to believe that there was some foul play, and because the husband was nowhere to be found . . . we put a missing-persons alert out on him,” Lorenz said.
from Customs and Border Protection:

CBP officers of the Blaine Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team were conducting routine outbound operations at the Peace Arch port of entry when John Levin, 44, approached the officers driving his 2009 Volkswagen EOS. A query of the vehicle’s license plate resulted in an NCIC alert for a missing person. The record also stated that Levin’s wife had been found deceased under suspicious circumstances.

The CBP officers immediately removed Levin from the vehicle. When placing him in handcuffs, they noticed that his wrists were injured and oozing blood. The Glendale Police Department was contacted by CBP and they confirmed their interest in Levin as a murder suspect. After Glendale police obtained a no bail felony arrest warrant, CBP turned Levin over to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to await the arrival of Glendale detectives.


Update 06/15/11:

John Levin has been found guilty -

A 46-year-old Glendale man was found guilty today of killing his wife and microwaving his Pomeranian to death before fleeing the state, officials said.

Jurors deliberated for a day and half before finding John Levin guilty of the second-degree murder of his wife, Michelle Levin, said Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman.

John Levin pleaded guilty to a felony animal cruelty for microwaving his dog before jurors returned with a verdict, she added.

He is expected to be sentenced July 19 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena. He faces 16 years to life in prison for both counts, Robison said.


I did a quick update post here.


18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice photo. Does he think he's gangsta or something? Well, he's going to have the chance to live gangsta-style pretty soon.

My heart goes out to Levin's family.

Anonymous said...

44 year old jew throwing hand signs

Anonymous said...

Michell Levin was my boss's daughter. She was a sweet and loving person. May John's soul rot in hell for the life he took.

May God bless her Soul and keep her in his loving care. My hear goes out to the Raymie (Michelle's maiden name) family for the untimely loss of this wonderful person.

Anonymous said...

I knew John Levin many years ago and recently made contact again on facebook. This really seems out of character for him. Any update on this story? There are many unanswered questions.

My condolences to the Raymie family. I am so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

The Levin's lived in my apt building. There has been very little information given out. A notice was posted on every door but nothing more from apt management and nothing in the news since John Levin was arrested at the Canadian border.

Anonymous said...

Sad that the Glendale PD is doing little it seems...the tipline is listed in an article but when you call, noone seems to know whats going on...those who answer the line seem lost...have no clue whats going on or better yet, asks you to call back tomorrow???? Seems for such a major city case, they would be more interested.

Scott said...

I think the number given in the article seeking information on Levin's whereabouts leading up to his arrest was just the main PD number. For individual police department contacts, refer to this list- http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/police/contacts.asp

if you have relevant information, contact Robbery/Homicide directly, otherwise Sgt. Tom Lorenz is the public information officer for the department, and he can be reached at and is usually very responsive:
tlorenz@ci.glendale.ca.us

Scott said...

Update here:
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/09/28/publicsafety/gnp-levin092909.txt

Anonymous said...

Michelle was a very warm, loving and sweet individual.

She is deeply missed.

Anonymous said...

"My heart goes out to Levin's family."

Ack, I meant to say...... my heart goes out to Raymie's family.

Anonymous said...

She was my niece and she will be deeply missed by all the family. She did not deserve this and I pray that justice gets served.

Anonymous said...

It has been almost over a month and no update on this terrible event. Does anyone know what is going on?

Anonymous said...

I briefly new Michelle in high school in San Antonio and reconnected w/her on facebook. She is a wonderful person and will be missed.

Delia Cavazos

Anonymous said...

I knew Michelle from high school. She was a sweet and loving person who did not deserve what happened to her. My heart goes out to her family. Gina Huron

Anonymous said...

I went to school with John in South Laguna in the 3rd and 4th grade. He was a child actor back the. I connected with him in 2009 on Facebook and he was a constant contributor who always spoke about what he an Michelle were doing. I noticed that he had been absent from FB for awhile and had wondered where he was. I found out when a friend sent me the newspaper link about the murder. I was stunned and it still bothers me today. What could have went so wrong? I did not know Michelle and I often think about the horror that she went through. I wonder what was going through John's head to make a committ such a horrendous act on someone he proclaimed to be so in love with.

Anonymous said...

Any update on what is happening with this case. There is a story out there.

Anonymous said...

I ran into an old friend today that told me about Michelle's death. I used to work with her at Sea World when she was just out of high-school. She had an incredible gift for languages. I remember how she helped me "cheat" on an oral Japanese test... To the Raymie family, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Scott said...

To all who knew Michelle or have commented - John Levin was found guilty today.

http://the818now.com/glendale-man-found-guilty-of-killing-wife-microwaving-pomeranian/

"A 46-year-old Glendale man was found guilty today of killing his wife and microwaving his Pomeranian to death before fleeing the state, officials said.

Jurors deliberated for a day and half before finding John Levin guilty of the second-degree murder of his wife, Michelle Levin, said Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman.

John Levin pleaded guilty to a felony animal cruelty for microwaving his dog before jurors returned with a verdict, she added.

He is expected to be sentenced July 19 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena. He faces 16 years to life in prison for both counts, Robison said."