(June 19, 2004) -- LBPD has announced the arrest of a suspect in the killing of 79 year-old Kaj Hansen, whose body was found June 18 in a field off Laguna Canyon Rd. in OC.

LBPD has arrested James Doherty, 54, of LB in the area of 56th St. and Atlantic Ave. in connection with the slaying.

LBPD Public Information Officer Nancy Pratt told LBReport.com that Mr. Hansen died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. He'd been reported missing by his wife, who said he didn't return after leaving to change a lock on an apartment unit in a building owned by the couple in the 6100 block of Linden Ave...from which a tenant was being evicted.

His wife became concerned, drove to the apartment complex, went to the unit, didn't get a response at the door and "then found what appeared to be bloody drag marks just outside the door, which led to the alley," said LBPD in a written release.

Officers took suspect Doherty into custody on June 19 at roughly 1 p.m. LBPD PIO Pratt says Mr. Hansen's car was recovered in the area of 64th St. and Downey Ave. at about 7 p.m.

Suspect Doherty is being held in LB's city jail on $1,030,000 bail ($1 million on allegations related to the killing, plus 30,000 for two warrants on unrelated charges).