Murder Charges Filed Against Chatsworth Man

A 58-year-old Chatsworth man was charged with murder on Thursday for allegedly killing his girlfriend earlier this week.

David Neylander Pearson was charged with one count of murder Thursday in San Fernando Superior Court.

Pearson allegedly strangled Kirsten Hyde, 62, on or between June 13 and 14, according to the felony complaint.  Police officials said they believe the couple was arguing when Pearson allegedly strangled the Chatsworth woman in the apartment they shared in the 9200 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Pearson is scheduled to be arraigned June 23 in San Fernando Superior Court.

He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. If convicted, Pearson faces life in prison with the possibility of parole and must provide DNA samples, according to the complaint.

An autopsy was expected to be performed Thursday on Hyde.

Pearson walked into the Topanga Community Police Station about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and allegedly told officers at the front desk that he had killed his girlfriend.

Pearson and Hyde lived in one of the 172 units near the rear of the gated apartment complex.

This death was the first homicide this year out of the Topanga Community Police Station, according to LAPD Detective Brian Pogue. Since the station opened in January 2009, there have been 17 homicides in its jurisdiction, Pogue said.

Topanga station covers a small portion of Chatsworth, as well as Canoga Park, West Hills, Winnetka and Woodland Hills.