Dad had met suspect in daughter's killing

THE FATHER OF a woman savagely stabbed and shot to death in her West Philly apartment last weekend told the Daily News on Tuesday that he met the Overbrook man whom police arrested in her murder.

Domenic Angeline Sr. said in an interview in his Bryn Mawr home that his daughter, Valerie Marie Angeline, 31, had briefly introduced him to Brandon Timmons, and that Timmons was in his home. His daughter said that Timmons, 22, was a friend.

Angeline was at Bryn Mawr Hospital on Thursday night to visit his wife, who has pneumonia. He is almost blind from diabetes. He called Valerie to pick him up.

She did so, with Timmons. "I shook his hand," Angeline said. "He seemed very polite."

His daughter and Timmons were in the family's Bryn Mawr house for only about 10 minutes before returning to Philadelphia.

Angeline would see his daughter, the youngest of his three children, a Radnor High School graduate, one more time - on Friday night, when Valerie celebrated her dad's 59th birthday at a Red Lobster.

At 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Timmons called 9-1-1 saying that he'd found Valerie's bloody and lifeless body in her first-floor apartment, on 64th Street near Vine in West Philly.

Police on Monday arrested Timmons in the slaying. He was charged Tuesday with murder, weapons offenses, abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering.

Homicide Sgt. Tim Cooney said that the two were romantically involved, and had an argument Friday night or early Saturday. Valerie was shot in the right eye and stabbed in her neck and chest.

Angeline said that when he learned that Timmons was the alleged murderer, he wanted to hurt him. But his next thought was: "God's got a plan for him. God will take care of him."

Timmons, of Columbia Avenue near 61st Street, faces a preliminary hearing April 11. Angeline plans to go to the various court hearings. Even though he can't see well, he said, "I just want to stare into his face. I just want to know how he feels."

NOTE: Valerie's family is planning her funeral, but is under financial hardship to pay for it. D'Anjolell Memorial Homes in Broomall is accepting donations on behalf of the family. Checks made out to "D'Anjolell Memorial Homes," with a memo saying the donation is for the "Valerie Angeline Fund," can be dropped off at the funeral home or mailed. Credit-card donations of $250 or more can also be called in to the funeral home at 610-356-4200. The mailing address is: D'Anjolell Memorial Homes, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA 19008.