A photographer says a missing model died in his car as he raced for medical help after accidentally running over her while trying to teach her a driving stunt, the Daily Breeze reported Friday.
Police haven't decided whether they believe photographer Charles E. Rathbun's claim that the woman's death was accidental and that he then panicked and buried her body, the newspaper said. He has been booked for investigation of murder.Investigators were to resume a search for the body Friday at Mill Creek Summit in the Angeles National Forest.
Linda Sobek, a 27-year-old former Raiders cheerleader, disappeared a week ago after leaving for a photo session from her home in Hermosa Beach, a Los Angeles suburb. Her abandoned vehicle was found Wednesday in a restaurant parking lot.
Sobek, 27, died Nov. 16, the day she was reported missing, the paper reported.
Rathbun, 38, was booked Thursday for investigation of murder and bail was set at $1 million, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Ron Spear said. He was arrested Wednesday after apparently attempting to shoot himself at his Hollywood home, police said.
Rathbun told police he buried Sobek in the Angeles National Forest, digging with his hands and with makeshift tools along Angeles Crest Highway, the newspaper reported, citing unidentified investigators.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Diane Hecht said Friday she could not confirm the story.
Friends of Sobek found some of her personal items, including a purse and cosmetics case, in the forest.
Rathbun, who specializes in photographing cars, reportedly told investigators he wanted Sobek to drive a car in a series of spins on a dry lake bed, a maneuver known as "doughnuts."
When she couldn't perform the maneuver, Rathbun said, he tried to show her how but lost control of the car and accidentally struck her, sources told the Breeze.
She died that same day as Rathbun drove her to get medical help, he told investigators.
On the same day Sobek was reported missing, Rathbun had checked out a Lexus from the manufacturer's fleet, a routine request for a car photographer, Lexus spokesman Mike Michels said.
That car was impounded and searched by Sheriff's Department investigators, Michels said.