Employee Acquitted in Killing of Firm’s Owner

A former employee of a La Mesa businessman shot to death in his check-cashing business was acquitted Tuesday of a murder charge.

After 10 days of deliberations, a San Diego Superior Court jury found John Edward Mullikin, 26, not guilty of murder and manslaughter in the Oct. 31 death of Stephen Schaefer, 42.

Schaefer, who also had been beaten, was found dead Nov. 1 in his business. His 20-month-old son was found sleeping beside him.

Mullikin, who had been in County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail, was ordered released by Superior Court Judge William Howatt Jr.

Mullikin was also acquitted of robbing Schaefer’s check-cashing business, Money Express, and of stealing Schaefer’s car. Mullikin declined to comment to a reporter.

There wasn’t enough evidence to support his guilt, jury foreman Fred Andrus said.

Asked why the deliberations lasted 10 days, Andrus said, “We all wanted to be thorough and look through all the evidence.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Collins had argued for a first-degree murder verdict.