$1-Million Bail for Son Linked to Slaying

Bail was set at $1 million Wednesday after a man accused of gunning down his father and stepmother in their National City home pleaded not guilty to charges of murder.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Lori Koster argued against bail for Kenneth Freeman, 41, saying he could be a danger to the community if released.

But Judge Robert P. McDonald set bail at $1 million after a deputy public defender argued that only circumstantial evidence connected Freeman to the killings.

After the hearing, Koster explained why Freeman is a prime suspect in the killings early Monday morning of Donald Freeman, 60, and his wife Glenda, 61.

There was no forced entry to the victims’ home, where Freeman had a room and stayed at times to help his father operate a mobile auto repair business, Koster said. And though the house had been ransacked, nothing was stolen, she said.

A .22-caliber pistol, which Koster said was probably the weapon used in the shootings, was found at Freeman’s home in El Cajon.

The prosecutor also said investigators found what appears to be a drop of blood on the handle of the weapon. Several shots were heard about 3 a.m. Monday by neighbors, who also said they heard what sounded like Freeman’s truck driving away from the scene about half an hour later, Koster said. The couple’s bodies were found at 10:30 a.m. by a neighbor and two of Glenda Freeman’s co-workers.

Koster said Freeman does not have an alibi for the time of the shooting.

The public defender, who will not represent Freeman at future court hearings, told Judge McDonald that Freeman is being accused because neighbors heard a truck leaving the scene, but “nobody saw it.”

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Dec. 3.