AM news: crime and death

Federal prosecutors begin their case against the scary-as-shit Aryan Brotherhood prison gang this week in Santa Ana. The lawyers declined to be interviewed by NBC-TV, probably because the gang is known for taking vengeance outside prison walls. Have we mentioned LAist is run from plush offices in the Flynt Building?

The ugh, ugh, ugh story of the day: 10 people in OC were arrested for gang raping a 23-year-old woman because they disliked her boyfriend. And that's only the beginning: among those arrested is the mother of one of the rapists, who cheered on her son and his buddies during the act.

We don't remember the game show "Press Your Luck" but it is still sad to note that its host, 63-year old Peter Tomarken, died when his small plane crashed into Santa Monica Bay yesterday. His wife, 41-year-old Kathleen, was also killed, and the passenger they were carrying is missing and presumed dead.

Actress Maureen Stapelton died yesterday at age 80 of natural causes. She was a triple crown winner: Oscar, Tony, Emmy. We've had no coffee so we'll crib from the NY Times obit: she "created a gallery of pugnacious, sometimes profane but always vulnerable heroines on Broadway, in films and on television and who won an Academy Award for her fiery performance as the anarchist Emma Goldman in Reds."