Photo: Facebook
He's had run-ins with the law since 1994.
By Alison Cerri — Written on Apr 30, 2019
Darren Partch was a professional hockey player—Wendi Miller was the CEO of a nonprofit. On Easter Sunday, the two were found dead in Partch’s apartment. Partch’s minor league career spanned from 2003 with the Long Beach Ice Dogs to 2006 with the San Diego Gulls. Following his hockey career, he became an account executive. Miller, a mother of two, ran Wings for Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for children within the family court system. The two were last seen together in Laguna Beach near the Sandpiper Bar on Saturday, Apr. 20, at around 1:45 a.m. Reportedly, Partch told Miller he would give her a ride home, since she lived a few blocks away from him.
But she never made it home. Instead, Partch’s roommate found them in their apartment at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Miller’s son wrote in a Facebook post about her death: “She had been shot and it was told to us that she did not suffer.” The suspect of the double-homicide is Jamon Rayon Buggs. The 44-year-old from Huntington Beach was already in police custody for an unrelated case when he was arrested for the murders on Apr. 25.
Who is Jamon Buggs? Below are five details about the suspected murderer and his criminal history.
1. He played college football
According to Heavy, Buggs played football at Arizona Western College. He had been a standout in high school as a running back for San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California. His football career ended after college.
A picture of Jamon Buggs.
2. He’s a personal trainer
In college, Buggs studied business and physical training. He combined the two to become the owner of DO IT AGAIN!9, a sports training company. Buggs founded the company 10 years ago, in 2009. His Instagram, which has since been deleted, noted that he’s a Master Trainer, Competition Prep/Lifestyle Coach and Fitness Enthusiast in its description. Buggs quotes himself on his LinkedIn profile, saying of his company and services: “These priceless tools will help you obtain your goals in any area of life.”
3. He was already a convicted felon
CBS2’s Stacey Butler reported that in 1994, Buggs committed battery on a San Diego officer, and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon a year later. Buggs was arrested in 1996, when he was charged with felony vandalism and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was also charged with two misdemeanors: taking property from another and brandishing a firearm. Buggs was sentenced to 32 months in state prison. The same year, Buggs was charged with grand theft auto as well. Four years later, in 2000, Buggs was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2014, he was convicted of driving under the influence and reckless driving and was sentenced to probation and two days in jail. Then he was charged for driving without a license and cited for not having both front and rear license plates in 2017 and 2018 respectively.In January of this year, Buggs’ live-in girlfriend sought a restraining order against him. A domestic violence charge was filed against him—in years past, he was convicted of domestic violence four times.
4. One neighbor said he was heard fighting with women
The neighbor, who did not want to named in her interview with CBS2/KCAL9, was Buggs’s next door neighbor since September 2018. She said she had heard him fight with different women he would bring home. In one case, they ran around the parking lot. “He was kind of aggressive, doors slamming. [They were] chasing each other, around the pool, to the parking lot. It’s incredible, it’s crazy, it’s scary,” she said. “You don’t know who your neighbors are.”
Details about the double homicide
5. He also attempted to burglarize two homes the same weekend as the murder
Irvine Police detailed the two attempted residential burglaries, which took place on Apr. 20 and Apr. 21. “The first attempted burglary occurred Saturday, April 20 at 11:35 p.m. and was interrupted by the resident who heard a noise on their second story balcony. The suspect was scared off after being seen and while fleeing, fired a single round from a handgun which lodged into the exterior of the residence. A second attempted burglary occurred Sunday, April 21 at 5:00 a.m. This attempt was reported later in the afternoon when the resident reviewed home surveillance video and saw the suspect had attempted to open the front door. No entry was made and the suspect immediately left the area on foot.”
The second home belonged to Esther Lau. She said he looked through the peephole and “just saw that the two guys playing games did not match the guy that he was looking for." Authorities told Lau Buggs was in search of a man of the same name—they believed Buggs was seeking out men he thought had romantic histories with women Buggs had been involved with before.
Alison Cerri is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.