A fixture in the small Antelope Valley community of Llano who died after being found wounded and tied up in his home was the subject of a plea for help from investigators and family on Wednesday.
Glen Brittner, a 59-year-old man who used a wheelchair, was discovered with his hands and feet bound with zip-ties and bleeding from a severe head wound on Aug. 18, 2015, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
His longtime home, on a multi-acre property in the 26200 block of East Avenue W-8, was ransacked during the violent home invasion, authorities said.
Brittner died after living in a coma for 10 days.
“It was totally unwarranted. This man suffered a tragic death that shouldn’t have occurred,” sheriff’s Detective Joe Espino said at a news conference Wednesday. “It was not worth the cost of a human life.”
Authorities said that $2,000 was taken from Brittner’s home, as well as several televisions and power tools.
Brittner became a widower 18 years before his death, the Sheriff’s Department said. A USC graduate, he owned and operated a water-supply company, Brittner Water Delivery, from his property.
“He lived alone but found happiness in camping with family, mastering engineering projects and music,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
His wife’s 1998 death, due to massive heart failure, threw Brittner into such disarray that he was featured on the television show “Hoarders” after amassing a collection of rats on his property, according to the Los Angeles Times. With the show’s help he made a full recovery, the newspaper reported.
Brittner regularly invited strangers into his home for a meal or a beer. His killer or killers may have taken advantage of his generosity, authorities said.
One of the victim’s sons teared up as he spoke at the news conference at sheriff’s headquarters. The family is expecting a baby due on Christmas Day.
“It’s unfortunate to all of us that he doesn’t get to see our family grow through my brother and my sister,” Derek Brittner said.
Investigators believe as least two people were involved in the death.
A $20,000 reward in the case has been offered by the Board of Supervisors.
Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Detectives Robert Kenney or Espino at 323-890-5500.
