Army Vet Convicted of Sex Assault Murder of Elderly Neighbor in Garden Grove

Michael Aon Varela in a booking photo. Courtesy of Garden Grove Police Department

A 36-year-old U.S. Army veteran was convicted on July 20 of fatally beating a 68-year-old neighbor during an attempted rape in Garden Grove nearly six years ago.

Michael Aon Varela was convicted of murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted rape.