Two Codes for Murder

A True Crime Story

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The Criminals

Meet the criminals who engaged in a conspiracy of attempted murder and torture. From Two Codes for Murder, a true crime story about the attempted murder of Charlene Mitleider and the attempted murder and torture of Muaid Alfuraiji.

The Criminals

From left to right the men in the photo are:

Floyd Arnold Mitleider
Marvin K. Brown
Ivan Darnell Catlin
James Ray Smith Jr.

Floyd Arnold Mitleider

Convict No. K-32161, born April 11, 1958, grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation from a high school in the Parkway District, he attended college and received a bachelor's degree. He worked for Maybelline before buying two St. Louis Post-Dispatch routes. In early 1994 he went to San Diego to buy Hillcrest Liquor and Checks Cashed 1% and in June of that year married Charlene, his "Forever Girl". The following June he was arrested for crimes against Charlene.

After his conviction in 1996, he tried to escape from the San Diego downtown jail. He was sentenced in August 1996 and was sent to Donovan Prison for evaluation. On Feb. 11, 1997, he was transferred to Folsom Prison to serve his sentences totalling 38 years to Life. Through the appeals process and because of an error in court procedure, the 9-year sentence for solicitation was vacated in 2000. The remainder of his sentence stands. It is now being served in Ironwood Prison, Blythe, CA.

Marvin Keith Brown

Convict No. E-28694, born February 15, 1971, is a high school graduate with a police record from gang days with Ivan Catlin. He grew up with the Lincoln Park Bloods "Piru Gang." Police confiscated at his home a photo album captioned L.P.BS. with pictures of Marvin and others in the gang wearing the green attire and throwing Lincoln Park Gang hand signs.

His arrest record includes:

the first at age 18 when Marvin had just graduated from high school. His girlfriend was pregnant and his son was born while he was in prison. Along with Ivan and Kenyon Williams he was convicted in 1989 of two armed robberies and battery of a girl. He served from 14 February 1990 to 16 December 1993.
He was arrested with Ivan for parole violation from his 1989 arrest and released from prison 18 March 1995.
On 17 June 1995 he was arrested for the crimes against Charlene and Muaid. Three strikes. He was sentenced to 106 years to Life. Due to illness he was confined to the California Medical Facility at Vacaville, then Atascadero State Hospital.

Ivan Darnell Catlin (nickname Darney)

Convict No. E-44547, born January 12, 1971, dropped out of high school. He has tattoos on his left arm (L/Park=Lincoln Park Gang) and on his right arm (ORIGINAL=short for original gang) and next to tattoo a pictograph I and I=Ivan street name for Lincoln Park Street Gang.

Court/police documents 1990 showed Ivan a five-year member of SYNDO Mob Gang. Found in his apartment when arrested 15 September 1995: pictures of Ivan and group wearing green apparel items=Lincoln Park Gang color; handwritten RAP lyrics proclaiming gang affiliation and boasting of violent gang action, speaks of Bloods Lincoln Park Gang, lyrics declare author to be I and I=Ivan's street moniker.Even though his appeal overturned the sentence in connection with Charlene's attempted murder,for the remaining crimes and the three strikes application he is serving an 80 years to Life sentence in Lancaster State Prison.

James Ray Smith, Jr. (nickname "J")

Convict No. K-15873, was born August 31, 1971. He grew up in Marshall TX, only finishing 10th grade. He has a tattoo with Chinese writing on his right upper arm. Linda Brown (Marvin's sister) was his live-in girlfriend whom he married while in jail awaiting trial for his involvement in the Mitleider/Alfuraiji crimes. He had two misdemeanor arrests: 1) having an open container at the beach 2) riding on the San Diego trolley with no ticket. He bought an unregistered .25-caliber semiautomatic Lorcen handgun from a heavy set guy at Mission Beach three weeks before arrested. He used foul language, especially the f-word, constantly. He is serving 25 years to Life + Life sentences in Lancaster State Prison.