The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 75

I rill) AWr mii xviiiv II 4ijpipjpf SECTION MONDAY Cos Angeles Sfanea JULY 15, 1996 cctt METRO Relative of Alleged Serial Killer Cites Life of Losses HIGHLIGHTS spent his adolescence. Today, Parker's face is one of dozens that adorn the walls in what looks like a loving monument to children. On one wall of Russell's living room are the framed photographs of 16 smiling grandchildren. Scattered throughout the house are the likenesses of children whom Russell raised. Among the latter group is Parker, "Gerry" as Russell knows him, who awaits trial in Orange County Superior Court, accused of raping and bashing to death five young women and causing the death of the fetus of a sixth, more than nine months' pregnant, who survived the attack.

Conviction could result in a death sentence. "This is the honest-to-God truth: He never gave me no problem," said Russell, an older cousin of Parker whose connection is complicated: She was a niece of Parker's late mother, Frankie Wagner Parker, whose brother was Russell's father. "He never gave me no problem at all," said Russell, who lives alone after having 14 children under her roof at one time. "He never brought no girls around here. Far as I know, he had no problem with girls." But authorities say Parker, who declined to be Please see PARKER, B4 Crime: Cousin who helped raise Gerald Parker says he was orphaned, abandoned.

She can't believe he raped and murdered. By MICHAEL GRANBERRY TIMES STAFF WRITER SAN DIEGO-Saying she can't believe he's guilty, the longtime guardian of Orange County's accused "Bludgeon Killer" remembers a boy who was left emotionally broken by the death of his mother in 1963, when he was only 8. "If he did these things they say he did and I hope to God he didn't then I think he did them because he never got over his Mama being dead and his Daddy just leaving them all," said Florence Russell, who helped raise Gerald Parker, a suspect in a series of killings. "It's as though he's trying to kill his Mama for leaving him behind," she said last week at her San Diego home. Russell, 59, lives in a small house on a narrow street in the heart of Logan Heights, one of the city's toughest neighborhoods.

It's the house where Parker, now 41, ACCUSED'S CHILDHOOD: A relative who raised murder suspect Gerald Parker says that, while she can't believe he committed the crimes, the death of his mother and abandonment by his father are to blame if he did. Bl BABES GALORE: The family crowds gather at "Baby Beach," a surfless nook in the relative calm of Dana Point Harbor where the average age of the bathers is given in months rather than years. Bl CHIEF HAILED: Thomas H. Bi-enert, 35, head of the U. S.

attorney's office in Santa Ana who is involved in several high-profile local cases, is formidable in the courtroom. The Laguna Beach native also wins praise from defense attorneys for his fairness and ethics. Bl BOBGRIESER Los Angeles Timea Florence Russell holds photos of Gerald Parker, whom she brought up in her San Diego home, and his parents. FOCUS Boogie Down, Baby IN PERSON: Christine Engels Taylor, a computer industry veteran who owns a computer graphics company and teaches at Orange Coast College, wants to be there when art and technology blend to make the Internet really interesting. B3 PERSPECTIVE: Cruising', that legendary car-culture custom, has nearly been stamped out in Orange County, but some say dangerous drag racing has taken its place.

B3 Recreation: Tomorrow's surfers get their feet wet at a quiet stretch of sand in Dana Point Harbor. i I ON THE RECORD "This is the honest-to-God truth: He never gave me no problem. He never gave me no problem at all. He never brought no girls around here. Far as I know, he had no problem with girls." Florence Russell, who helped raise Gerald Parker, the alleged "Bludgeon Killer." Bl ByLENHALL TIMES STAFF WRITER DANA POINT-Topless is acceptable at this cozy little beach tucked into a corner of Dana Point.

Some swimmers even go bottomless, walking unflinchingly through the sand in their birthday suits, sin verguenza without a care in the world. Only the vigilant, the most observant, the most- senior lifeguards are allowed to work this beat. That's because this is "Baby Beach," a surfless, 150-yard-long nook in the relative calm of Dana Point Harbor where the average age of the bathers is given in months rather than years. Here is the future, the teenagers of the second decade of the 21st century, whose language consists mostly of squeals and shouts and perhaps the earliest rudiments of the slang of 2010. "This beach is unique in Orange County," said Api Wei-nert, co-director of Laguna Beach-based U.S.

Ocean Safety, which for the last six years has provided a lifeguard service for 6 miles of county beaches, including "Baby Beach." "Huntington Beach is known Please see BABT, B4 Lottery Results For Saturday, July 13 SUPER LOTTO Winning Numbers: 1 -6-1 3-28-33-45 $3 million Jackpot: Winners per Category: No. or Prim Each 6of 6 $3 million Sof 6 137 $1,315 4of 6 $75 6,189 3o6 $5 119,573 BOBGRIESER Los Angeles Times Todd Miller of Dana Point gives his son Jake, 4, a shove across the calm waters of "Baby Beach" on a foam Boogie Board. THE BIG SPIN Jose Heraldez, West Covlna, Wanda Young, Pt. Mugu, Francisco Corona, Gardena, Marcelo Camplz, El Monte, Victor Flores, Los Angeles, $16,000. Lottery regional offices: Santa Ana (714)708-0540 San Diego (619)492-1700 VanNuys (818)901-5006 Ventura (805)654-4655 Whittier (310)908-5300 Chief U.S.

Attorney Is the Perry Mason of Prosecution 'The biggest thrill I get is standing up in a courtroom before a jury of 12 people and saying, 'I'm here to represent the United States of America For Sunday, JULY 14 FANTASY 5 bested him in the 20 criminal trials he personally prosecuted. Nineteen ended in convictions and the 20th case ended in a mistrial. Bienert's record is one of the reasons why U.S. Atty. Nora Manella, who heads the seven-county Central District from an office in Los Angeles, tapped him to become the top Justice Department official in Orange County.

But Bienert has had little time to celebrate his promotion. Since he accepted the post in April, his office has become engaged in two high-Please see BIENERT, B5 Winning Numbers: 3-1 2-2 1 -27-39 ByDAVAN MAHARAj TIMES STAFF WRITER SANTA ANA-Defense lawyers may want to think twice before taking on Thomas H. Bienert, the new head of the U. S. attorney's office in Santa Ana.

In his eight years as an assistant U. S. attorney, Bienert has amassed an almost-perfect record, winning all of his 18 appeals before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where few federal prosecutors have fared so well. And no defense attorney ever DAILY 3 Thomas H.

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"Our general experience has been that commercial drivers are safer drivers," she said. "They have to be; it's their livelihood." STREET SMART members of both groups account for fewer accidents than the rest of us. In 1995, according to statistics compiled by the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles, truckers were involved in only 3 of the state's fatal accidents even, though they drive about 21 of the registered vehicles on the road. And in any given year, according to DMV spokesman Evan Nossoff, 6.4 of the male drivers in California are likely to be involved in accidents, compared to 4.5 of the females. "Women tend to get into significantly fewer accidents than men," Nossoff said.

In the case of truckers, the difference may have to do with experience and training, said CHP spokeswoman Pat By DAVID HALDANE TIMES STAFF WRITER Dear Street Smart: My husband and I are from Chicago and have lived in Orange County for the past 35 years. We always spoke in glowing terms about the "sophistication and courtesy" of California drivers in comparison to those of the Midwest. No more! The truck drivers are no longer the wonderful helpers and king-of-the-road people; they drive trucks today as though they are behind the wheel of a sports car. Along with all this are the female drivers approximately age 18 to 45 who are rude, discourteous and drive so poorly that they put everyone in Dear Street Smart: Nine years ago, I moved to northeast Santa Ana. At the time, the city said it could not afford to fix the streets because Gemco had moved out and they did not have the sales tax base.

Since then Target moved into Gemco, HomeBase and Home Depot set up shop and MainPlace opened. But the streets in the northeast part of the city are nine years worse. Please see STREET, BIO I I INDEX Orange County Focus B2.3 Letters B8 Voices B9 Weather B6 Air Quality BIO Where to Reach Us B3 jeopardy. We are curious what the traffic accident reports show regarding these groups as to fatalities, serious accidents and citations given. Any statistic would be appreciated.

Rita Singer Garden Grove You may be surprised to learn that.