Arrest made in slaying of Redondo Beach mother, daughter

On Tuesday evening more than 75 friends held a vigil at nearby Andrews Park for Courtney, a graduate of Redondo Union High School who had been working at the Cheesecake Factory and helping pay the bills at home, and Vicki, an employee of T.J. Maxx.

Posters of Courtney with friends were taped to a light post, and candles were lit in a line on the ground. As friends shared memories, just a block away detectives and officials of the Los Angeles County Coroners Office were photographing the crime scene and taking away the two bodies.

TV cameras from L.A. news stations lit up a street packed with news vans transmitting live to homes across Southern California.

For many friends, Courtney’s death was not the first young life taken in Redondo Beach this year. Just last month, 19-year-old Priscilla Ruiz was killed in a head-on traffic collision just blocks from the scene of Tuesday’s crime.

“It’s just so unexpected to get murdered in your own home,” said friend Brandi Metsker, 18. “You wouldn’t think it would happen to anybody you know.”

Everybody remembered Courtney as an outgoing, happy person.

“No matter what was going on at home she was always bubbly,” said Ariel Gronski.

“She was a sweet girl. Nobody deserves this,” said Lauren Hutchinson. “She was getting stuff on track and her relationship with her mother was going really well.”