Southern California attorney arrested in 1989 killing of girlfriend’s daughter

California lawyer arrested in 1989 killing

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — An attorney who wrote a book about Internet dating was arrested Wednesday for investigation of killing his girlfriend’s daughter 20 years ago so his girlfriend could gain custody of her granddaughter, authorities said.

Eric Fagan, 74, was arrested at his home in Chula Vista and was being held without bail on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

Fagan is accused of shooting Cathy Paternoster, then 32, and wounding her boyfriend Carl Fuerst, then 41, outside their Spring Valley Lake home on an October evening in 1989.

Authorities believe Fagan committed the killing so Paternoster’s mother, Betty Paternoster, would obtain custody of the girl.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said Fagan was the subject of a criminal investigation in 1989 that involved one of Paternoster’s three daughters. She would not elaborate.

Calls to a Betty Paternoster of Los Angeles County and Carl Fuerst of White City, Ore., were not immediately returned.

It was not immediately clear what triggered investigators to reopen the case last year after nearly two decades. Messages left for the detective working on the case were not returned.

A message left at Fagan’s law office was not returned.

Fagan is the author of “Cast Your Net: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Soulmate on the Internet.”