Pubdate: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: Local News,page 1 Author: Stuart Pfeifer THREE MAY FACE DEATH They Are Accused Of Killing A Teen Police Informant From O.C. The 1998 slaying of Brea police informant Chad MacDonald prompted a new state law and a civil lawsuit accusing detectives of placing the teenager's life in danger. Today, Los Angeles County prosecutors begin their quest to seek death sentences for three suspects accused of killing MacDonald at a drug house in Norwalk. To MacDonald's family, the motive for the slaying has been clear since day one: They believe the Yorba Linda youth was slain as payback for his work as a secret drug informant. But Deputy District Attorney Jeff Ramseyer has not publicly commented on that motive. In court documents, he alleged that the three suspects, Florence L. Noriega, 30, Michael L. Martinez, 22, and Jose A. Ibarra, 21, killed MacDonald during a robbery. MacDonald, 17, disappeared March 1, 1998, after visiting the drug house with his 17-year-old girlfriend. His battered body was found two days later. The girlfriend was raped and shot but survived. Defense attorneys have said the suspects wanted to teach MacDonald a lesson by beating him up but did not intend to kill him. MacDonald made one undercover drug purchase for Brea police after his January 1998 arrest for methamphetamine possession. Police said they did not send him to the Norwalk house. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea