KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Eric Earle, who was found guilty of murder of Karla Brada in September was sentenced to 26 years to life, officials said Monday.
Sponsored Articles
A Saugus man with a history of domestic violence was sentenced today to 26 years to life in state prison for the killing of his girlfriend, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officials said in a news release.
Eric Allen Earle, 43, was found guilty by a jury on Sept. 18 of first-degree murder.
On Sept. 1, 2011, the 31-year-old victim was found dead inside her condo, which she shared with Earle, just two days before her birthday. She had been beaten and asphyxiated by Earle during a violent argument, according to trial testimony.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Earle not only assaulted his girlfriend on other occasions but that he also had beaten his estranged wife.
Deputy District Attorney Elena Abramson prosecuted the case.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was the investigative agency.
Previous story:
In the opening statements back in September, Deputy District Attorney Elena Abramson described Earle as an abusive, controlling boyfriend who beat his girlfriend in an argument ending with Brada’s death Sept. 1, 2011.
Abramson opened with a picture of Brada, noting the victim would have turned 35 on Sept. 3, the day before jurors were to get their notice for service.
In early 2011, Brada and Earle met in an alcoholics anonymous meeting where both were struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Within a few months, the two were living together in Brada’s two-bedroom condo in Saugus.
The relationship quickly turned violent, Abramson contended, explaining in her opening remarks how Earle allegedly isolated Brada from her friends, while manipulating her and physically abusing her.
Arredondo declined to say whether Earle would testify on his own behalf during the trial.
He said his client had no reason to kill Brada and that he loved her, Arredondo said.
“Much of the case here will depend upon expert testimony,” Arredondo said, but adding if the justice system relied on experts alone, there would be no need for the jury.
“The conclusion here is death by asphyxiation,” Arredondo said. “The problem here is that, there’s also methadone.”
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.
Hopefully he will be in there for life! This shows how unsafe AA is with courts mandating violent felons like Eric Earle everyday to 12 step meetings like AA and NA.
The parents of Karla Brada are suing Alcoholics Anonymous for the wrongful death of their daughter.
They are suing the wrong party…. she is an adult an AA did NOT approve that relationship.
AA saves lives not ends them
WRONG Jenn. STOP defending a diabolical cult religion. Thanks so much.
Since when is AA considered a religion ? Much less a cult ?? Whatever….
AA itself is not to blame….however there are many unwell AA meetings. At the beginning of every AA meeting the person chairing the meeting will always ask the following ” Are there any topics for tonite’s meeting “” If someone had asked for the topic to be 13 stepping, there would be an awareness for newcomers who are always vulnerable to other members who are 13 stepping. For those that do not know 13 stepping within the AA program is someone looking to pick up a new member to date. AA helps a lot of people who want to be helped…..however there are AA groups all over the world that are unhealthy.
Rod.
Your only concern is making money off the backs of addicts and alcoholics. A.A. takes money from you and it pisses you off.
You are a MORON… she moved in with a stranger…how is AA at fault for her ignorance?
thanks, jenn. also, counselorchick, in what world is AA more of as cult than evangelical christian religion? you don’t have to believe in god to be in AA and no one makes you come back if you don’t want to.
AA does not monitor people’s behavior in the meetings. AA provides a free ands safe haven for predators, criminals and psychopaths to attend the meetings. Anything goes.
There is no excuse for taking another life. We miss the boat though if we point the finger at AA.
AA, as an organization, is not what many may think it is (intentionally). AA is not “run” by formally trained counselors. AA is run by people who were once drunks and are now recovered through exercising and now living the 12 steps. These people, as their only payment for sobriety and a new way of living their once disastrous lives, are at the meetings to give to another what they have been freely given.
It is very natural to want to hate in a situation like this one. Resentment is an evil, real, powerful emotion. Suing the pants off an organization that has very shallow pockets (There are no dues or fees for AA membership) is not going to offer resolve. In fact, we would be stealing the chance, sometimes the only chance, that a drunk has for finding the change necessary to live into sobriety.
AA, in my experience, is FULL of degenerates…but there are also warriors in AA. Those there that bring the message and show the tough love required to take a degenerate like me and force me to take a hard, close look at the person I see in mirror. The warriors make up the minority, but they are there and they are ready. This guy Eric that took this beautiful woman’s life is exactly where he needs to be, but AA had nothing to do with Eric and his evil. Eric, obviously, never understood what true sobriety is. There was no fixing Eric.
Preventing this from happening again is as simple as this: In AA, women must work with women, men must work with men. In the AA environment, if one sex approaches another, the one approached should turn and walk away. (Sobriety is much, much more than staying away from a drink.) You don’t need anything further to avoid a situation like this one. What we can get from AA is beautiful, but it’s like walking into hell to get it. Sounds terrible? No, being a drunk is terrible. Being addicted to drugs or porn or food or sex is all terrible. Having to walk into sordid places (AA Halls) to get sober is a show of the desperation required to be ready for the help you can find there.
Ryan – Sober 04-Jul-11
Well said Ryan. I agree 100% with everything u said. As a recovering addict with 4 yrs of sobriety, if i would’ve listened to members in NA, my counselors in treatment, and my sponsor, I would be celebrating 10 plus years. That’s why it’s suggested that women stick with women and men stick with men. Also, not to get n2 any kind of relationship at least for a year. But I thought i was an exception….NOT. my heart goes out to the victims family!!
Ryan,
Beautifully written. So poignant. I know nothing about alcoholism. All I have is compassion and gratitude that I never started drinking. Hoping you are still sober.
Shirin
Ryan, First of all, congrats on being sober. Secondly, I totally agree with every word you said. You are a caring and intelligent human being. May God bless you. I have a grown daughter who has battled addiction that I pray for daily and I hope that one day she will be as sensible as you are. Thanks for being an inspiration to others and for giving hope to all of us who are doing their best to support our loved ones through this struggle.
Thank you.
She was also court mandated to attend AA at one point when she was driving drunk all over town and smashed up her crap car. I used to live near the area and personally am thankful I never ran into her on methadone, methamphetamines and alcohol while driving those very same streets as myself and children…whew
I was actually locked up with him in 2012 and he was a total jerk and a cower in the cells but I never new he was in their for the murder of his former girlfriend
He was my childhood best friend all my memories growing up we’re great and then once he hit about 16 17 years old he went downhill and we stopped talking. I know more about his family his life everything about him and I am absolutely beside myself to see that he turned out like this. It’s a very sad situation…..
My heart goes out to her family. Words can’t explain what they must be going through. I hope he has a very rough time Behind Bars.
Now you can RIP Karla!!
Let’s see….you can’t meet a good guy in a bar, church, on the web, as a friend of a friend, jogging in a park, even in AA. Maybe meeting a guy who is already in prison and can’t get out is a safe bet????
If you can’t meet a good guy in any of those places, maybe it’s not the men lol
That is very possible women are pretty cra cra at times it aint all men …
They’re wasting their time trying to sue AA. She was an adult and made her own choices.
AA does not monitor people’s behavior in the meetings. AA provides a free ands safe haven for predators, criminals and psychopaths to attend the meetings. Anything goes.
Blaming AA is not the way to go. They are not at fault. It’s like saying ‘my partner and I had an argument while shopping and he hit me so it’s the store that is at fault’. It’s hard for any parent to accept that their child made the wrong choice in life.
Seriously? She was a victim of domestic violence at an extremely vulnerable point in her life. She didn’t “make the wrong choice.” Enough with the victim blaming. And as someone who has been a member of a 12 step fellowship, I am in shock that anyone else who has been a member would think anything else. There are predators in the meetings, we have all seen it. And I would bet money that EVERY woman has experienced it. And people don’t do enough to stop it. Not saying AA is legally liable, but it is a serious flaw in the fellowship. Newcomers should be warned of this and looked out for, rather than told they are “home,” and that the people in the meetings are their “family.” It’s revolting. And it is tolerated much more than it should be. Sexual predators should be publicly shamed and called out. But I rarely see this happen. A victim of abuse is a victim, plain and simple. Would you say that someone who was mugged “made the wrong decision” by walking down a certain street? No. So why is it acceptable to do so in cases of domestic violence or sexual assault? This rhetoric needs to stop.
Kate you will e happy to know I call them out!
AA should not be liable you could meet a felon in a bar at the gym, the market, from a friend, you can meet one anywhere, I do not blame Karla, she had a drug and alcohol problem which they shared as common bond and can really fog a persons reasoning skills, I hope you RIP Karla, even though I don’t know you I will think about you
Wow..let’s keep it simple everybody.The issue is many men and women , as newcomers, are not aware of the felons and sexual predators who are, many times court ordered to aa meetings. I get it why so many are protective of aa, it’s helped so many; however the organization does not feel responsible for newcomers or old-timers to educate them about these issues, that there are hardened criminals in the rooms…? How about an inventory on there part! RIP Karla. My condolences to her family.
I like to do a background check before I move in with someone.
Yes the revolting rhetoric needs to end!
A couple thoughts….Karla Brada was introduced to that meeting by the treatment center she was attending. (They brought a van load of women there every week.) Maybe they should bring their female clients to a Woman’s AA Group.
Also, AA’s only requirement for membership is a desire to quit drinking. Coming to AA is a voluntary act. No one should be forced to go there by the courts. I’ve been to countless meetings where people have been forced there by probation or judges. Some of these people benefit from attendance, but some don’t want to be there at all.
I agree with you about going voluntarily and should not be mandated in court. I knew it was a mistake using drugs to numb myself while going thru am ugly divorce. So i moved to LA from the bay area to get away from it. I was already sober and working as shift manager for a pizza place when i started attending coz its ordered by court for custody issues with my daughter and I remember hating it the first day. Coz i look at myself and looking at those around me – I just felt I dont belong there and it was depressing coz I am reminded how stupid i was to do drugs to numb me and hurts each time to be reminded how i lost custody of my daughter. at some point I just wanted to give in and do drugs so you feel you belong there and that’s why you should be there but not when you’re already been sober and clean on your own for awhile but had to go still coz of court orders. that’s sucks.
Amen…. but the the women meetings are usually women who Luke women and prêt on the.lol…What a world de are in….
To this young ladies family I am deeply sorry for your loss. It is by far a tradgic situation. I’ve been sober a long time. I have been privileged to sponsor many beautiful woman over the he 40yrs I’ve been sober. I can honestly say that I have for warned many ladies about the perverts who hang around the meetings. Some listen..some don’t. I ty o was hit on in early sobriety..I didn’t listen. I got hurt. That’s how I learned to keep ad far away as I could get. BTW there are sick women who hit on vulnerable men as well. I do stress the fist and most important reason for coming to A.A. is to learn how to live sober and productive lives. I beli be its our duty as members to warn people who will hit on them and wha ty their agenda is. However after that if he or she continues a relationship with the other person we cannot stop them. God bless her family. I will be adding them in my prayers.
Fortunately, the Court agreed. AA was dismissed from the lawsuit. I wonder who encouraged the Mendez family on such a frivolous quest.
It’s the fault of the felons but fault also lies with the courts mandating sex offenders and violent offenders to AA wen they don’t belong .it’s not AAs falut at all ,yes there r problems with 13 steppen and that should be taken care of with n that group. But if the courts would find support places for the one like Eric this might not have happened.sex offenders don’t belong n AA if they don’t have a problem with drugs or alcohol. We need to get places for violent and sex offenders to go for support.
I have been ivolved with aa in one way or another all my life.. while karla lossing her life is very tragic.. i dont think AA should be scrutinized or blamed she could just as well have met him in a bar…what are the stats how many victims of domestic violenvce happen thru aa oppessed to anywhere else in general…
This is so sad. I understand the family morning and the heartache this has left on them but as so many of you have pointed out, by no means is this the faug&faught of AA. I can only think this family iso so hurt and in so much pain they feel someone should be held accountable outside the obvious person her abuser. I hope they are not suing AA for some kind of financial gain at the cost of their adult daughters tragedy. No good comes from punishing an organization who’s only real goal is to help those whom choose to want help and need support. No organization or rehab for that matter can predict on what someine will do. Seriously if this family that says they have been aware of the violence my question is … why did this family not help her then. Why take a domestic violence situation and blame an organization… Guess what I’m trying to say- It was no secret as to this abusers behavior and history. For what ever her reasons she chose to stay in this situation. Being, a woman who to was left disabled at the hands of my ex husband. I know why most stay…fear…the chiLoren. Financial..regardless… if only someone could have put as much energy into helping her find an escape plan as much energy that’s going into suing an organization just blows my mind. If the family truly wanted to do something to make a change. My belief ..is help an organization like House of Ruth or any domestic violence organization help get mandating laws past and or stronger laws. Help with raising financial help for DV shelters and help these woman and children get their independence back…Getting the knowledge out there to let DVD victims know there is away out…saying that AA is at faught for the behavior of their clients is like trying to know who your sitting next to on public transportation. Sorry….but as a victim and survivor of DV and might I add never been a drinker or drug addict…Just a mother a wife a sister a daughter a friend and now a DV speaker to get the word out there that there is help. Something that I didn’t have back in the days I was in a situation where I felt trap. Again this is only my thoughtsylor and opinion. Just wish more people would stop and look beyond the Almighty $$$. And in my heart I truly feel this girls family is not spreading awareness about DV. But turning her death into a financial greed…If by some small miracle they won this claim. Honestly do you think they would use any of it to assist or use those funds DV shelters. I’m sorry they lost their loved one. Just think this is wrong. I hope my reply don’t offend anyone. That’s not my intention. Just wanted to reach out at th the very least to let anyone else involved in a DV situation know there is help…Ty
Just Me ~from the East Coast
Aa only has suggestions they cant tell u what to do only suggest how u should do it…your supposed to wait at least a year before getting into a relationship thats what she shouldve done and yes it happens all the time but if u put ur two cents in it could cause unwanted drama. Aa is not at fault her judgement for jumping into a relationship with a man she didnt take the time to know is. Common sense isnt so common, i see not only men that do this but also woman u have to remember u learn bad behaviours when your an addict or alcoholic. Their are girls looking for love and also men but if u take the suggestions and do the program the way its laid out you focus on yourself, we come to get clean but others come for the wrong reasons…it seems she came for a guy and she got it, if she had waited to date she wouldve got to know him and figure him out or he wouldve moved on to another female. Aa is in the buisness of saving lives, their not their to babysit people, you either come to save your life and focus on recovery or u dont listen, do it your way and fix a feeling with a feeling. Aa suggests u dont date and talk to the woman and get a woman sponser but again some people dont.they have many sayings like 2 dead batteries dont start a car. Its outrageous the family wants to blame aa their daughter didnt do the program the way its laid out and once she had been beaten by this guy she stayed…dont blame bad judgment tho just blame an organization that even suggests not to do what she did and saves people.your daughter did everytjing they say not to do but the truth is a hard pill to swallow
Cult?!! Religion??!! Woah where are they getting this from..their nothing you gotta do to come other then have a desire to quit? Where your welcomed and accepted and can always come back..theirs no requirment…u dont have to accept jesus as yr savior or have any preferences in any religion its not religious at all!!! Whomever xalls it a cult is way off