Murder victim's neighbors are feeling safer Murder victim's neighbors are feeling safer (December 19, 2003)

Suspects are all in jail

By Jon Wiener

With three murder suspects behind bars, residents on Jardin Drive and Morton Court are breathing easier.

Residents of Dottie Condon's neighborhood are still in a bit of shock over the Oct. 25 attack that eventually took her life. But last week's news that Mountain View police arrested suspects in the case elicited a few sighs of relief.

Leonel Jimenez Cantor, 26, and David Armaro Olayo, 20, were indicted Dec. 10 on counts of murder, burglary, robbery and elder abuse.

Jose Guadalupe Sosa, 33, is charged with robbery and being an accessory to the crime for harboring the other two suspects.

Cantor faces additional charges of murder during the commission of a robbery and causing great bodily injury to Condon. The crime carries a possible death sentence, but prosecutors said they would not seek it.

Judge Diane Northway denied bail to Cantor and Olayo. Sosa has not posted the $5 million bail Northway set for him.

"We believe the charges are an accurate reflection of the measure of responsibility attributed to each man," said Deputy District Attorney Dan Fehderau.

Cantor and Olayo entered Condon's home on the corner of Morton Court and Jardin Drive in the early afternoon on Oct. 25, according to Fehderau. They ransacked several parts of the house and took $1,000 in cash and other unspecified items when Condon surprised them. Cantor proceeded to beat her to within inches of her life before he and Olayo fled to the car Sosa was driving. Condon died from her injuries Nov. 28.

"Nothing like that ever happens around here," said Stephen Paul Terry, a Morton Court resident of 50 years who says he has known Condon's live-in partner, Des Telmond, his whole life.

Terry and other neighbors focused on the revelation that Olayo had previously been in Condon's home through a housekeeping service that she hired. They said that knowing it was not a completely random attack makes them less afraid for their own safety.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 19 for a plea hearing, though Fehderau does not expect them to enter pleas at that time.

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