Dean Albert, 55

Died April 28, 2011

Dean Albert, a 55-year-old white man, was found fatally wounded Thursday, April 28, near Chantry Flats Road and Santa Anita Canyon Avenue in Angeles Crest, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Authorities responded to a call about 5:40 p.m. when a passerby came upon Albert on the side of the road. Albert, of Arcadia, had a gunshot wound in his chest. He was later was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Investigators identified Kevin Wolfe Pochter, Albert's longtime friend, as the main suspect in the killing.

After the shooting, authorities said they believed Pochter, a 53-year-old white man, left the scene in Albert’s car, a silver 1993 BMW sedan.

The car was spotted Saturday about 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Mt. Wilson Observatory. Pochter was last seen in the mountains above Arcadia and Monrovia.

Four days after Albert died, Pochter's body was found by a hiker near the Chantry Flat campground, a short distance from where Albert’s body was discovered. He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Detectives, who are still investigating the shootings, said the two friends who had been close since high school had a falling out related to finances.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters who’d like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

— Howard Blume and Andrew Blankstein