Simi murder suspect awaiting arraignment
Police still not releasing details of crime
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

The arraignment date has been delayed for a 41-year-old Simi Valley woman charged with the stabbing murder of her mother.

Lauren Doretta Donahue, who Simi police have described as a transient, will appear at the Ventura County Courthouse for her arraignment on March 5, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox.

While arraignments typically take place within 48 hours of a person's arrest, Fox said it is common for defense attorneys to request a continuance in a murder case.

"At this point the defense has nothing, and I have just a little bit from the reports being written and processed," Fox said. "In a murder case- these things take so long- everybody knows that the defendant isn't going anywhere, so the defense will ask for a continuance to have more time to read all the police reports and get the information they need to enter into pleas."

Donahue was arrested at the Santa Clarita Amtrak station on Feb. 5, after 69-year-old Rose Weiss was found stabbed to death on her property in the 5300 block of Diane Street in Simi Valley. Police have not released any further details on how they found Donahue or identified her as the suspect.

A motive for the killing is still unknown, said Sgt. Adam Darough of the Simi Valley Police Department.

James Baroni, chief deputy medical examiner with Ventura County, said the official cause of Weiss' death was exsanguination due to multiple stab wounds. Baroni would not disclose where or how many times she was stabbed.

Donahue, who was convicted in January 2007 of possession of a controlled substance, is currently being held at the Ventura County Main Jail with bail set at $525,000.

"Everybody is entitled to bail unless there are special circumstances filed like the possibility of life without parole or the death sentence," Fox said. "It's an alleged murder and the standard bail is $500,000. Everybody is entitled to that."

Donahue's arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 14 in Courtroom 14. She will be represented by public defender Marty Wolter.