BAIL BONDSMAN'S SHOOTING/MURDER CAME AFTER LOUD FIGHT
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – An investigation into the shooting death of a bail bondsman is focusing on whether the 51-year-old male shooter was justified in firing when an apparent argument over a love triangle moved from outside a home to a bedroom inside, authorities said.
Six days after the shooting, police still report that Maldonado was killed by a 51-year-old male guest, visiting the home of Linda Shaw-Sprowl. She is reportedly a personal trainer who owns and operates a business called Body Balance.
No arrests have been made and the anonymity of the shooter remains protected.
For some time, bondsman Dean Patrick Maldonado had an on-and-off-again relationship with a female fitness instructor, police said. On Saturday night, Maldonado went over to her Rancho Santa Margarita home and another man was there, officials said.
Before the 49-year-old bondsman was shot multiple times in the chest, a loud argument erupted between the bondsman and his female friend, who lived at the 21300 block of Stonetower Drive, said Investigator Dan Salcedo of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Just before midnight Saturday, officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Department began receiving 911 calls from neighbors at Stonetower Drive, a cul-de-sac street right at the edge of the Cleveland National Forest.
One caller, a neighbor, reported hearing a domestic dispute and saw Maldonado, dressed in white, walking toward one of the homes on the street, police said.
According to property records, that house is owned by Linda Shaw-Sprowl, a fitness instructor who was in the middle of an almost yearlong divorce.
What prompted Maldonado to drive over to the two-story home was not disclosed by investigators, but Maldonado and Shaw began arguing, with Maldonado yelling from outside the home, police said.
The fight prompted a second neighbor to call police, this time reporting that Maldonado was screaming in the back yard of Shaw's home, police said.
The third call, Salcedo said, came from inside the house.
Authorities did not say who, but either Shaw-Sprowl or her male friend called 911 in the middle of the fight and reported the disturbance to authorities. During the call, Salcedo said, Maldonado is believed to have entered the home through a rear sliding door.
Maldonado walked to an upstairs bedroom where Shaw and her friend were, Salcedo said.
The man took a handgun he kept in a locked box, and fired several times toward Maldonado, hitting him in the chest, police said.
Authorities did not give details as to what happened inside the bedroom just before the shooting.
The main question in the case, Salcedo said is, "What happened from beginning to end, and was the shooter justified in firing his weapon?"
Citing their ongoing investigation, investigators have not publicly released the names of those involved in the incident, except for the victim's.
Shaw-Sprowl was identified by the Register through property records.
The shooter was described only as a 51-year-old man who has residences in Newport Beach and Arizona.
Salcedo said the shooter is not and has never been a law enforcement officer. He is also not Shaw-Sprowl's estranged husband.
After the shooting, the 51-year-old returned the handgun to the locked box, where it was retrieved by deputies, Salcedo said.
The man met deputies at the front door of the home and has been cooperating with law enforcement officials, Salcedo said.
Investigators are continuing their investigation, which includes looking at toxicology results from Maldonado's autopsy and tests from the shooter. The case is expected to be handed to the District Attorney's office for review.
Linda Shaw posted on Maldonado's MySpace page a heart graphic and the words "I love you" on Friday July 16th. The next day she has another man over, Maldonado shows up and he is shot by this man, Shaw's other lover? The day before she's saying she loves Maldonado? Also, Maldonado's last entry on his Facebook page was on Thursday at 6:27 p.m. It said, "I'm a Sucker For Love."
Why won't they release the shooter's name, why is he being protected?
Rumor has it he is a federal marshall for American Airlines and is married.
