New Charges in Ocampo Case
The Orange County District Attorney's office filed two additional counts of murder Monday against Itzcoatl Ocampo, a former Marine already charged with the serial murders of four homeless men.
The new charges regard the murders of a Yorba Linda mother and son who were stabbed to death on October 25, 2011 in their home. According to police, 53-year-old Raquel Estrada was stabbed more than 30 times and her son, Ju
Ocampo, 23, of Yorba Linda, was officially linked to the crime in late January after DNA evidence was identified at the scene.
Police say the crime was similar to the previous murders of four homeless men since all of the victims were stabbed multiple times in a similar manner in the upper body.
Ocampo is accused of having a prior relationship with Eder Herrera, a family member of Raquel Estrada and Juan Herrera who was also the man formerly charged with their killings.
Due to new evidence presented Monday in the Ocampo case, Herrera was dismissed of his murder charges and is scheduled to be released from Orange County Jail.
Ocampo is now the sole suspect and is charged with a total of six felony counts of murder with special circumstances for multiple murders and lying in wait. There are also sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon during the commission of the crimes.
If convicted, the minimum sentence Ocampo faces is life in prison without the possibility of parole. Due to the special circumstances of the case, Ocampo is eligible for the death penalty.
After a review of the case by a special circumstances committee, the final decision to pursue the death penalty will rest on the District Attorney.
Arraignment for the new charges against Ocampo was held Monday at 8:30 am at the Central Justice Center. He is set to be arraigned on March 16.
