David Allen Stevens, a 38-year-old marketing manager at a dating service called "Perfect Match," was tragically murdered on December 23, 1998, in La Jolla, California. Stevens was found shot to death in his burning 1995 Chrysler LeBaron. The investigation revealed that he had been shot twice in the head before his car was set on fire. The case initially baffled investigators, who struggled to find leads or a clear motive for the crime.
The investigation took a significant turn when it
was discovered that Stevens had been lured to his death by Ny Nourn, an 18-year-old telemarketer at the same dating service, and her boyfriend, Ronald Barker, a 35-year-old married man. Nourn and Barker had an intense relationship, and Barker became enraged upon discovering that Nourn had gone on a date with Stevens. Nourn falsely claimed that Stevens had raped her, which led Barker to plot Stevens' murder. On the night of the murder, Nourn lured Stevens out under the pretense of meeting her brother, Barker, who then shot Stevens and set his car on fire.
Both Nourn and Barker were arrested and charged with Stevens' murder. In 2003, Nourn was convicted of premeditated murder and arson, receiving a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Barker was also convicted in January 2003 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The case highlighted issues of manipulation and abuse, as Nourn's defense argued that she was a victim of Battered Women's Syndrome and had been coerced by Barker into participating in the crime.
The investigation into Stevens' murder faced several challenges, including initial missteps by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). Stevens' family filed a citizen complaint with the San Diego Grand Jury, citing negligence in processing the crime scene, neglectful pursuit of evidentiary sources, and unprofessional treatment of the victim's family. Despite these challenges, the convictions of Nourn and Barker brought some measure of justice for Stevens' family.
In a notable development, Ny Nourn's conviction was later overturned on appeal, and she was retried and convicted of second-degree murder in 2008, receiving a reduced sentence of 15 years to life. She was paroled in 2017 but faced deportation to Cambodia. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom pardoned Nourn, citing her rehabilitation and the risk of deportation as factors in his decision. Nourn has since become an activist and community advocate, working with the Asian Law Caucus to support formerly incarcerated immigrants.
