Newbury Park Man Found Beaten, Stabbed to Death

A 61-year-old Newbury Park man found beaten and stabbed to death in his home over the weekend may have been killed during a break-in, authorities said Monday.

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies discovered Larry Phifer’s body about 8:30 p.m. Saturday after a friend asked authorities to check on Phifer because he had not heard from him in two days, said Eric Nishimoto, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

Phifer was retired and lived alone in the 100 block of North Wendy Drive. He died from blunt-force head injuries and multiple stab wounds, said James Baroni, a senior deputy coroner. An autopsy was inconclusive as to whether Phifer was killed on Friday or Saturday, Baroni said.

Investigators found evidence of a possible forced entry, Nishimoto said.

“We don’t have any concrete information that it was a burglary,” he said, but “as a precaution, we are suggesting residents in that area secure their homes whether they are at home or away.”

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff’s Department at 654-2311 or speak anonymously to Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 494-8255.