Torrance man identified as victim of deadly grizzly bear attack in Yellowstone National Park
Brian Matayoshi
TORRANCE, Calif.—Authorities today identified a 57-year-old Torrance man as the victim of a deadly grizzly bear attack in Yellowstone National Park.
Brian Matayoshi suffered multiple bite and claw injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene following the attack by a female grizzly as he and his wife, Marylyn, were hiking on the popular Wapiti Lake Trail about 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The couple began walking away after surprising the bear and her cubs about 100 yards away, then ran after seeing the bear running down the trail toward them, according to a statement released by Yellowstone National Park.
The grizzly caught up with Matayoshi and attacked him, then turned its attention to his wife, who had fallen to the ground nearby. The bear bit the woman’s daypack, lifting her from the ground and dropping her as she remained still, park officials said.
Matayoshi’s wife unsuccessfully tried to call 911 on her cell phone, then shouted for help. A group of hikers heard her and called 911.
Authorities said their initial investigation suggested that the grizzly “acted in a purely defensive nature to protect her cubs,” and apparently does not have a history of aggression or human interaction.
The National Park Service does not normally trap, relocate or kill a bear under those circumstances, according to the statement.
Hiking trails in the area have been closed, and a board that will include interagency experts will review the first fatal grizzly bear attack in the park since 1986.
COMPTON, Calif. — Former Compton Fire Department Deputy Chief Marcel Melanson is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on grand theft and arson charges related to a fire at the department’s headquarters.
Melanson is suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Motorola radios, selling them online and intentionally setting the Dec. 11, 2011 fire to destroy evidence of the thefts, Steve Whitmore of the sheriff’s department said.
TORRANCE, Calif. — Torrance police today announced they are seeking a man in his 20s suspected of exposing himself near schools twice in a seven-day span.
Two students were walking home from Bert Lynn Middle School Tuesday when they saw a man seated in the driver seat of a small blue or gray four door sedan, possibly a Honda. His passenger window was down and he chuckled at them.
He was holding his exposed penis with both hands, laughing. He said nothing and the victims turned away and quickly went home, police said.
TORRANCE, Calif. — The Torrance Police Department announced today that it has three suspects in custody who are believed to have been involved in credit card fraud victimizing 37 people from San Diego to Simi Valley.
The investigation began on Sept. 17, after a Torrance resident living in the 17500 block of Emanita Avenue was fraudulently billed for a delivery to a FedEx office at 21023 Hawthorne Boulevard.
Surveillance video allegedly showed a suspect picking up a package.
TORRANCE, Calif.—A coroner's official today released the names of a husband and wife, both in their 70s, who died in a murder-suicide inside the woman's room at a Torrance hospital.
They were Marlow Hugo Galbraith, 75, and Joanna Sue Galbraith, 74, both of Torrance, said Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Joe Bale.
A substance abuse counselor was charged with murder and other counts for allegedly driving drunk, running into a pedestrian and driving two miles with him embedded in her car’s windshield before other motorists stopped her.
Sherri Lynn Wilkins, 51, of Torrance, was arraigned Tuesday in Torrance Superior Court on one count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, driving with a .08 percent or higher blood-alcohol content causing injury and leaving the scene of an accident, according to the district attorney’s office.
