2 Plead Not Guilty in Slaying of Woman

Two men pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that they killed an Anaheim woman last week when they went to her home to buy a Corvette listed for sale in a classified ad.

Robert Clarence Taylor, 26, of Sunset Beach and Norman James DeWitt, 33, of Cypress were arraigned in North Orange County Municipal Court. An alleged accomplice, Nanette Scheid, 27, pleaded not guilty to burglary and robbery charges.

Taylor and DeWitt could face the death penalty for allegedly killing Ryoko Hanano, 62, while in the process of committing a burglary and robbery. They also are charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Kazumi Hanano, 62, Ryoko’s husband.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 29. The three are still in custody. No bail has been set for the men because they are accused of a capital offense. Bail for Scheid has been set at $500,000.

The three are suspected of responding July 10 to Kazumi Hanano’s advertisement to sell a 1984 black Chevrolet Corvette, tying up the couple, shooting them and stealing the car.

According to police, a woman contacted the victims during the day, test drove the car and departed. Then she telephoned to set up an appointment for later in the day, when she arrived with two other men, police said.

During the robbery, Ryoko Hanano was shot to death, and her husband was shot in the chest. His condition is not available.

According to search warrant affidavits filed in court, the police were able to track the suspects through a fingerprint left at the scene by Scheid.

In addition, a woman who runs a Costa Mesa business called Corvette Lady notified police after she received a phone call from a man who said his name was Bob and that he was selling a black 1984 Corvette, according to court documents.

After hearing about the Anaheim murder from a neighbor, the woman notified police and gave them a phone number the man had given to her. Police traced the number to a Sunset Beach address.

They staked out the house and eventually arrested Taylor, who left the garage in a black 1984 Corvette. The license plates had been changed, but police found the license plate TOY4KAZ inside the car, according to documents filed in court.

Police arrested Scheid through the fingerprint and arrested DeWitt after questioning Taylor and Scheid, police said.