SF man found guilty of killing girlfriend, throwing body in bay

Lee Bell, suspected of murdering Pearla Ann Louis and stuffing her body in a suitcase. Lee Bell, suspected of murdering Pearla Ann Louis and stuffing her body in a suitcase. Photo: San Francisco Police Photo: San Francisco Police Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close SF man found guilty of killing girlfriend, throwing body in bay 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A man was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday for strangling his girlfriend, cramming her body into a suitcase and throwing it into San Francisco Bay.

After three days of deliberation, jurors convicted Lee Bell, 55, of killing Pearla Louis, 52 at the time of her death, whose body washed up along the Embarcadero in May 2010.

Throughout the three-week trial, Assistant District Attorney Michael Swart presented evidence that Bell had a long history of abusing women that continued after he began a relationship with Louis in 2008.

In the last year of her life, Louis was in and out of the hospital for injuries caused by Bell — facial fractures, black eyes, broken ribs — that were similar to newer injuries that the medical examiner’s office documented during Louis’ autopsy, Swart said.

Following one of the attacks, Louis moved into a respite center for care. In the weeks leading up to her death, Bell began obsessively calling the center, so much so that the center’s staff made a note to never allow him into the facility.

Louis, who was recovering from drug addiction, had a complicated relationship with Bell, who plied her with drugs. Two days before her body washed up, she told a nurse at the respite center that she was going to see Bell to get money he owed her, authorities said. The nurse begged her not to go.

She was last seen alive by a desk clerk at the Harcourt Hotel on Larkin Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood, where Bell was staying. Bell was seen talking to Louis in an angry manner.

Surveillance video footage from another residential hotel showed Bell retrieving a suitcase the following day that matched the one that was later found containing Louis’ body.

Malcolm Smith, Bell’s attorney, argued in trial that Bell’s history of domestic violence tainted the investigation, with investigators concluding he was guilty despite not knowing when or where Lous was killed.

Bell had repeated outbursts throughout the trial, many about how he did not believe his side was being fairly heard. The case has been delayed over and over as Bell changed attorneys, claiming they were unfit to represent him, and as his own ability to participate in the proceedings was questioned.

Louis’ adult children sat through much of the trial. Her son, Kareem Marshall, said he and his siblings were looking forward to an end to the seven-year ordeal.

Bell is scheduled to return to court Aug. 25, when a sentencing date will be set.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo