The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on January 28 arrested Ronalee Barrett Stanberry, who has been identified as the assailant who killed Fontana business owner Fritz Mendoza by clubbing him about the head with a decorative miniature baseball bat.
After Stanberry’s apprehension, he was turned over to the Fontana Police Department, which had issued an all-points bulletin in the aftermath of Mendoza’s slaying.
On January 10, the 79-year-old Mendoza and his son went into their Allstate Insurance office, located at 9782 Sierra Avenue around 8:45 a.m. Stanberry had gained access to the premises, it is believed, the previous evening, having come through the roof. He dropped through the ceiling and once inside could not leave as the doors were locked and he had no key.
When Mendoza’s son went to the back of the office, he saw that ceiling panels were on the floor. Moments later both Mendozas saw Stanberry, who by that point had donned a white and blue pinstriped United States Postal Service button-up shirt that Mendoza had at the office. The younger Mendoza confronted Stanberry and sought to escort him out of the office. As he was doing so, Stanberry seized a baseball bat was imprinted with the Allstate insurance logo and Mendoza’s grandchildren’s initials. He then used it to inflict a fatal blow to the elder Mendoza’s head, according to police.
Stanberry, who had several distinctive tattoos at various spots on his body, including “Active” and “Whiteboy” in cursive writing on his lower forehead above his eyebrows, fled on foot. He was seen by witnesses heading toward the 10 Freeway.
Mendoza was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
Stanberry, who has an extensive arrest record, was identified as the individual who had severely injured Mendoza. Stanberry had known residences of varying durations in Chino, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and other areas of Kern County. He had a history of riding the rails. A manhunt for him was initiated.
Mendoza hung on to life for more than a week-and-a-half but succumbed on January 21.
Stanberry was spotted in Hollywood and taken into custody on January 28.
“We are grateful for the numerous tips and for the tireless efforts of investigators that led to the arrest of Stanberry,” Fontana Police Chief Michael Dorsey said in a written statement.
He has been charged with violations of PC 203 mayhem, PC 187 burglary and PC 187 murder. He is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
His next scheduled court hearing is on March 12 at the Rancho Cucamonga Justice Center.