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Woman convicted of murdering mother of LAPD training officer

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A 62-year-old woman was convicted today of the financially motivated murder of her 79-year-old aunt, who was the mother of a Los Angeles Police Department training officer.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated about three hours before finding Barbara Jean Davenport guilty of first-degree murder and robbery in the June 2, 2012, killing of Cleo Hughes. Jurors also found true a special circumstance allegation that Davenport killed her aunt during the commission of a robbery.

Hughes’ body was discovered about 11:50 a.m. June 3, 2012, at a home in the 1600 block of West 66th Street, between Western and Normandie avenues in South Los Angeles. She had been shot once in the chest.

Her son had driven to the house to check on his mother after not being able to reach her by telephone. The officer found her in her bedroom. Charges were filed the following month against Davenport, who was linked to the crime through DNA evidence.

The victim was a bookkeeper for a family restaurant and kept money in the house, which was taken, according to Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray.

Davenport is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set for Oct. 1. The District Attorney’s Office previously decided against seeking the death penalty against Davenport.

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