THREE MAY FACE DEATH

They Are Accused Of Killing A Teen Police Informant From O.C.

The 1998 slaying of Brea police informant Chad MacDonald prompted a
new state law and a civil lawsuit accusing detectives of placing the
teenager's life in danger.

Today, Los Angeles County prosecutors begin their quest to seek death
sentences for three suspects accused of killing MacDonald at a drug
house in Norwalk.

To MacDonald's family, the motive for the slaying has been clear since
day one: They believe the Yorba Linda youth was slain as payback for
his work as a secret drug informant.

But Deputy District Attorney Jeff Ramseyer has not publicly commented
on that motive. In court documents, he alleged that the three
suspects, Florence L. Noriega, 30, Michael L. Martinez, 22, and Jose
A. Ibarra, 21, killed MacDonald during a robbery.

MacDonald, 17, disappeared March 1, 1998, after visiting the drug
house with his 17-year-old girlfriend. His battered body was found two
days later. The girlfriend was raped and shot but survived.

Defense attorneys have said the suspects wanted to teach MacDonald a
lesson by beating him up but did not intend to kill him.

MacDonald made one undercover drug purchase for Brea police after his
January 1998 arrest for methamphetamine possession. Police said they
did not send him to the Norwalk house.