Public Safety
Palm Springs Man Ordered To Stand Trial In Mother’s Death
A 19-year-old man accused of gunning down his mother at their Palm Springs home must stand trial on a murder charge, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Brian Patrick Conroy is charged with killing 36-year-old Amber Lane, who was shot just before 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2017 in the 4100 block of Calle San Antonio. She died at Desert Regional Medical Center about two hours later. Lane was killed with a .357 revolver that she owned.
Tuesday’s preliminary hearing included testimony from Palm Springs police officers, as well as Conroy’s stepbrother, Andrew Lane, and Conroy’s stepfather David Lane, both of whom were at the home when the shooting occurred.
The testimony did not illuminate a concrete motive for the killing, but Palm Springs Police Det. Chris Jaeger testified that Conroy told him in an interview that he went into his mother’s bedroom and pointed the gun at her for unknown reasons. He believed that she began laughing at him, and Jaeger ventured that this angered Conroy and caused him to shoot her.
Family members also testified that Conroy had been acting strangely in the days and weeks prior to the shooting.
Andrew Lane said Conroy had been acting “paranoid” and “distant,” and made statements that “someone was watching him.” He also expressed various times that he did not want to be alone and needed someone with him, according to Andrew.
David Lane said that on the day of the shooting, Conroy “wasn’t himself” while working his shift at Wang’s at the Desert, where his mother and stepfather also worked. Lane said Conroy “wasn’t focused” and when asked what was wrong, Conroy simply said he couldn’t talk about it.
At Conroy’s arraignment last year, a prosecutor alleged that he made statements that “voices commanded” him to commit the killing, but those statements were not mentioned at Tuesday’s hearing.
Despite those incidents, both Lanes said they never knew Conroy to have any mental health issues.
The Lanes testified that after hearing the gunshot, they ran to the master bedroom where Amber had been sleeping and found her suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. When David Lane asked Conroy what happened, he said “I don’t know,” according to witness testimony.
Conroy’s attorney, Frederick Fascenelli, focused on statements Andrew made to police shortly after the shooting, which differed from his testimony Tuesday. Andrew initially told investigators that Conroy was sleeping in the same bedroom as him when the gunshot went off, then he found David and Amber inside the master bedroom. Conroy also told Jaeger that he was asleep in a bedroom shared by Andrew when the gunshot went off, the detective testified, but later admitted shooting her.
Andrew Lane also initially said he believed his stepmother might have shot herself, but no longer believes that to be the case.
When asked by Fascenelli why his story changed, he said “I said it because I wanted to protect everyone in the house. I didn’t want what happened, you know, to be true.”
When questioned whether this meant he was protecting his father, he said, “No, I was obviously protecting Brian. I hadn’t known at the time what had happened.”
Conroy, a former Palm Springs High School student who has no prior criminal record in Riverside County, is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. He’s due back in court Nov. 20 for a post-preliminary hearing arraignment.
By: News Staff
November 6, 2018
Latest Instagram Posts
Murder suspect Vicky Kim has once again not been cleared to appear in court. Kim is accused of killing her husband at their Palm Desert condominium complex. Her arraignment has now been delayed three times. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we track the latest developments in this case. #VickyKim #PalmDesert #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews #CourtUpdate NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs is mourning the loss of beloved entertainer James “Gypsy” Haake, who has died at 94. Haake began his entertainment career at just 19 years old as a Broadway chorus dancer. After retiring from the stage, he returned to performing at 82, becoming the host of Carnival Cabaret at Oscars in downtown Palm Springs. A longtime friend of our station, Haake was a familiar and beloved figure in the Palm Springs entertainment community — and his contributions were recognized with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. His career spanned more than seven decades, proving that the spotlight never truly left him. ❤️ Rest in peace, James “Gypsy” Haake. Your legacy will live on in Palm Springs. #JamesGypsyHaake #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsWalkOfStars #CarnivalCabaret #PalmSpringsEntertainment #OscarsPalmSprings #PalmSpringsHistory
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Sterling Conley with the rushing TD, 2) Marcus Kennedy with the touchdown catch, 3) Cade Pinon with the big time sack, 4) Kingston Pellum with the pick-6, or 5) Caleb Hartwell with the saving throw #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
James Nellis from @dsrt_club_lq and @rd_rnnr_lq makes us one of his signature dishes, his Maine scallops with hibiscus puree. His creativity and skill lead to unique bold flavors and scrumptious dishes. We chat about his love of trying new things in the kitchen, what being a chef means to him, and how food can different, flavorful, and fun. This is James Nellis on a plate. See it now on nbcpalmsprings.com
At the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, first responders, families and community members came together to honor the lives lost—and the heroes who answered the call 25 years ago on September 11, 2001. Two first responders who responded to opposite sides of the World Trade Center met for the first time at the event, sharing a powerful moment of remembrance and connection. 26 flights. Three times. One enduring message: Never Forget. #NeverForget #September11 #911Memorial #MemorialStairClimb #FirstResponders HonorAndRemember 911
Palm Desert’s future takes center stage next week. The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 2026 State of the City Address & Luncheon on Friday, September 18, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort. The event brings together local business leaders, community members and city stakeholders for an inside look at the priorities, opportunities and future of Palm Desert. Friday, September 18 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Palm Desert Individual tickets are $85 for Chamber members and $95 for non-members. Get the details and registration information from the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce. #PalmDesert #StateOfTheCity #CoachellaValley #PalmDesertBusiness #GreaterPalmSprings #PalmDesertChamber
25 years later, the memories of 9/11 remain vivid for the firefighters who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. A longtime FDNY firefighter reflects on the trauma, loss and moments that have stayed with him a quarter-century after the attacks. #911 #September11 #NeverForget #FDNY #Firefighter #911Anniversary #25YearsLater #NewYorkCity #Remembering911 #NBCTPalmSprings
A troubling history is coming to light in a Palm Desert husband’s death. 65-year old Vicky Kim is accused in the death of her husband — but prosecutors say she had previously faced several domestic violence cases involving him. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office says it had secured protective orders against Kim before a judge later resolved her cases as misdemeanors, released her from custody and terminated those orders. Now, Kim is expected to be arraigned in connection with her husband’s death. Court records allege the weapon used was a flagpole.
☕️🔥 How hot is TOO hot? A new study finds that drinking scalding-hot beverages may be linked to nearly 3 times the risk of esophageal cancer—the most common type of cancer affecting the esophagus. The takeaway? Let that coffee, tea or other hot drink cool down before taking a sip. ❤️ #HealthNews #EsophagealCancer #CancerRisk #HotBeverages #Coffee #Tea #CancerAwareness #HealthyHabits #HealthTips