SUSPECT SHOT, KILLED PREVIOUS HUSBAND.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES - The operator of a Palmdale indoor swap meet booth, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 1988 shooting death of her then-husband, was charged Wednesday with murdering her mother.

Vanessa Walker, 42, joins her 39-year-old husband, Ken, as a defendant in the slaying of 67-year-old Nada Lazarevic, whose body was found near a mountain highway in Kern County two weeks after she was reported missing.

Each has been charged with murder for financial gain, which makes them eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole if they are convicted.

Investigators believe that Lazarevic helped the couple financially, co- signing for one of their credit cards and helping make the down payment on their house, but said the pair continued to rack up debt, possibly as much as $50,000.

``If you look at everything that's owed, it's like a forgiveness of debt. They no longer have to repay that debt. (Vanessa Walker is) one of two daughters of the victim and would get half of everything the victim owns. That's the theory,'' said homicide Detective Danny Smith.

Smith said investigators are still obtaining financial records to determine the amount of money the Walkers owed.

Vanessa Walker was arrested Saturday after she visited her husband at the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles. Sheriff's deputies had been keeping her under surveillance and took her into custody as she was walking to her car.

Ken Walker is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court next week. Vanessa Walker was set to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon.

Vanessa Walker already has a criminal record, having pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Contra Costa County Superior Court in the death of her then-husband, Lance Marquez. She was sentenced to three years in prison.

She at first told police that Marquez committed suicide, but when confronted by evidence that indicated it was not a suicide, she said she shot him while he slept as a result of a long history of domestic abuse, said Lt. William Zbacnik of the Pittsburg police department.

Zbacnik recalled that Lazarevic was supportive of her daughter during the trial and took care of her two daughters. ``She knew she was involved with an abusive man. She stood by her daughter,'' Zbacnik said.

At the time of his arrest, Ken Walker was facing charges of misdemeanor spousal abuse and cruelty to a child. He also has a 1999 misdemeanor conviction for vandalism.

Lazarevic was last seen Aug. 25 by neighbors who saw her drive away from her home, reportedly on her way to the Walkers' home to discuss money they owed her. Lazarevic's other adult daughter reported her missing Aug. 28.