MURRIETA – A preliminary hearing is set Thursday for a San Jacinto man who is accused of murdering a 74-year-old disabled woman, who died of head trauma suffered during an attempted rape at a gated Hemet seniors' complex, and twice raping another resident over a two-month period.

Kenneth Daniels Jr., 21, allegedly raped a 63-year-old woman about 3:15 a.m. last Aug. 21 and again on Oct. 19 about 5:15 a.m.

Less than two months later, he is suspected of trying to rape Rosemarie Edwin, a wheelchair user who suffered fatal head injuries in the Dec. 11 attack that occurred about 4:50 in the morning, said Hemet police Lt. Jeff Pinney.

All three attacks occurred at Oak Terrace Apartments at 551 N. Santa Fe St., where residents must be at least 55 years old.

Daniels is charged with murder, with the special circumstance allegation that the killing occurred in the commission of an attempted rape, and two felony rape charges involving the younger victim.

He was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. Dec. 28 by Hemet police, who had begun surveillance at the complex after the earlier assaults, Pinney said.

Daniels matched the description of the suspect, and police began tailing him after watching him jump a fence and head into the complex, the lieutenant said.

Moments later, a woman called 911, saying a man was trying to break into her unit, Pinney said. Officers collared Daniels after a brief struggle.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office announced last month that it would seek the death penalty for Daniels, should he be bound over for trial.

“The vicious and remorseless acts by the defendant against an elderly and particularly vulnerable victim more than justified the ultimate penalty,” Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said.

“His pattern of extreme violence against women and the elderly terrorized a community,” the county's top prosecutor added.