By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — A former middle school teacher has been found guilty of charges stemming from a 2005 cold case murder.
According to a statement released by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Charles Wright, 57, was convicted by a jury July 10 of murdering Pertina Epps, 21, on April 26, 2005, and kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman on Sept. 17, 2006.
Epps’ body was found in an empty parking stall in the 2700 block of 141st Place by a resident backing out of a carport, authorities said.
During closing statements, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office presented photos of Epps indicating where Wright’s DNA, fingerprint and palm print were found in various places on the victim.
Wright’s DNA also was found under Epps’ fingernails, indicating a struggle.
Wright was arrested in January 2022 in connection with the murder of Epps, who was a mother of two.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Hugo Reynaga, fingerprint and DNA technology helped detectives identify Wright as the likely suspect in Epps’ murder.
After his arrest, he posted $1 million bail and immediately resigned from his teaching position with the Inglewood Unified School District.
Five days after his arrest he was linked to another crime — the 2006 sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman in Los Angeles, Reynaga said.
The trial began in mid-June when the jury heard testimony of the evidence collected at the screen scene.
“I think the defense did a good job implying that most of the evidence was circumstantial,” said a potential juror who was dismissed but attended opening statements. “The defense attempted to portray the victim as a ‘dumb sex worker’ who couldn’t remember all of the details of what happened.
Wright was convicted of one count of first-degree murder; one count of kidnapping for oral copulation; and one count of forced oral copulation.
Deputy District Attorney’s Jeff Lewin and Ethan Milius prosecuted the case.
“Charles Wright was a man who preyed on vulnerable young women, who were barely older than the students he taught and he appears to have specifically targeted sex workers because he understood that they were vulnerable and would likely not report his atrocious acts against them,” Lewin said.
“Given the evidence in the case, it leads one to wonder what else don’t we know.
Wright will be back in an Inglewood courtroom Sept. 10 for sentencing where he is facing 50 years to life.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
