MAN SLAIN IN HOME, WIFE HURT

Family Disputes Police Theory That Attack Was Somehow Involved With
Illegal Drugs

Rex Farrance was a popular senior editor at PC World magazine in San
Francisco, a physical-fitness buff and a family man known for his
enthusiasm for life and his sensitivity to others, friends say.

But according to police, Farrance, 59, was involved with illegal
drugs and possibly dealing them along with his wife at their
Pittsburg home. The activity, police said Wednesday, led to a
home-invasion robbery Tuesday night in which Farrance was killed and
his wife, a registered nurse, was pistol-whipped.

However, Farrance's son, Sterling Farrance, 19, blasted the police
assertion that his parents were involved with illegal drugs in any
way. Sterling Farrance told The Chronicle on Wednesday night that he
grew and stored medical marijuana at his parents' home with his
father's permission.

"I have a prescription. I'm a patient. It was medical," he said.
"This one officer I remember at the house, he had this predisposition
to think it was all illegal."

At about 9 p.m. Tuesday, four masked men burst into the Farrance home
on Argosy Court, a usually tranquil cul-de-sac near an elementary
school. They fatally shot Rex Farrance in the chest and hit his wife
in the head with a gun, Pittsburg police Inspector John Conaty said.

Rex Farrance's wife, Lenore Vantosh-Farrance, 56, called 911, but the
assailants fled on foot before police arrived. No arrests have been
made in what investigators said was a targeted attack possibly linked
to narcotics.

"We have substantial reason to believe that the victim and his wife
were involved in the possession of and, potentially, the distribution
of illegal narcotics," said Conaty. He declined to specify what type
of drug, saying only that a "considerable" amount was found in the
home. Police also would not say whether the killers took anything
from the house.

Vantosh-Farrance was treated at a hospital and released and
unavailable for comment. Her daughter, Kavita Johnopoulos, 31, also
rejected police statements that her mother and stepfather were
involved with illegal drugs.

She said she believes Rex Farrance, an avid hunter, was targeted for
money and guns because he's a member of the Bay Point Rod and Gun Club.

"It's sick that they would do this, that they would give false
information on what's going on in that home," Johnopoulos said.

Co-workers and friends expressed shock at Rex Farrance's slaying and
the alleged ties to drugs.

"I never went to his house or knew his wife, but he never came across
as someone who would be dealing drugs," said Todd Fong, a former
co-worker of Farrance at PC World. "Granted, things could have
changed -- and I truly hope the police are wrong in their assumptions
- -- but the Rex I knew and will always remember was a great person."

Rex Farrance, who turned 59 on Sunday, had been an employee of PC
World in San Francisco for 19 years and was senior technical editor,
reviewing online and print articles for technical accuracy. He was
also a fitness enthusiast and rock-music aficionado, friends said.

His wife has been a registered nurse in California since 1983 and is
employed by Kaiser Permanente, according to acquaintances and public
records. Neither Farrance nor his wife has an arrest record, authorities said.

PC World officials said Wednesday that they had no knowledge about
the drug allegations and described Farrance as a well-liked, model employee.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Rex's untimely
death," said Jeff Edman, president and CEO of PC World. "We will miss
not only his many contributions, but also his friendship."

"We're all in shock here," said Denny Arar, a PC World senior editor.
"Rex loved his work. He really cared about covering technology in a
way that was useful for readers. He cared a lot about people, period."

Kimberly Brinson, PC World's managing editor, said Farrance was a
"kind-hearted and gracious person who showed tremendous respect for
others and their work."

As a technical editor, Farrance was "part teacher, part diplomat, and
part historian, roles he served with great sensitivity and humor,"
Brinson said.

For part of Wednesday, police tape surrounded the couple's yellow,
one-story home, which abuts Willow Cove Elementary School. A piece of
plywood covered the damaged front door; Farrance's Cadillac was
parked in the driveway.

Herculano Darosa, 54, who has lived on the street for 24 years, said
he often saw Farrance jogging or exercising in the neighborhood. "He
looked nice to me," said Darosa, who expressed shock at the police
assertion that the couple were involved in drugs.

Another neighbor who wished to be identified only as Dan said, "We
were absolutely shocked to see the police lights, and we were even
more shocked to hear from the police that there was drugs going on.
If they were into drugs, then they kept it well-hidden."