KCBS is reporting on the discovery of two women's bodies last night in a room at the Value Inn on West MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland, one of a strip of motels frequented by prostitutes and gangbangers -- and we say this only because we used to live right near there and would occasionally see ladies of the night, walking in the morning light with bloody knees. Few details exist except that the women appeared beaten, and they were found in a room which had been occupied since June 5th. These two unfortunate slayings bring Oakland's total homicide count for 2009 up to 47, and not quite on track to equal last year's tally of 126 for the year. more ›

The body of Ivarene Lett, age 97, was found beaten to death two nights ago in her 6th floor apartment in the Adams Point neighborhood of Oakland, near Lake Merritt. She was a tiny woman, barely five feet tall, who recently passed her driving test and who enjoyed going to a weekly dance class and driving her vintage Chevy. As far back as city records go, Ms. Lett appears to be the oldest homicide victim in Oakland's history. And it's been quite a year for such records, with Oakland recognizing its oldest homicide suspect just about 12 months ago, who was 94 at the time of his arrest for killing his landlord. Comments on Lett's case range from "pretty concerning" to "the ultimate in depravity." We'd go with #2. more ›