Itzcoatl Ocampo

Case record: Itzcoatl Ocampo

Overview

Itzcoatl Ocampo was a former Marine accused in Orange County of brutally murdering middle-aged homeless men, and also of killing Raquel Estrada and her son Juan Herrera.

Timeline

• Oct. 25 — Police found Raquel Estrada, 53, dead in a home in Yorba Linda, with several puncture wounds to her chest; officers also found drag marks leading into the home and a bloody steak knife located approximately 3 feet from her head.
• Oct. 26 — Police conducted a search in Eder Herrera’s bedroom and found “sorrowful writings,” and collected additional items including tax return, a fitness membership card, and various other items.
• Dec. 20 — James McGillivray, 53, was stabbed “numerous times as he was sleeping on the side of the business” in a Placentia shopping center.
• Dec. 28 — Lloyd “Jim” Middaugh, 42, was found in a riverbed after being attacked while sleeping.
• Dec. 30 — Paulus Smit, 57, was stabbed to death in Yorba Linda.
• Jan. 13 — John Barry, 64, was stabbed behind a Carl’s Jr. in a busy shopping center.
• Jan. 14 — Investigators obtained a cheek swab from Ocampo.
• Jan. 20 — A search warrant was filed in connection with evidence recovered from Ocampo’s Yorba Linda home.
• Jan. 25 — Authorities recovered dark clothing, a book titled “The Most Notorious Crimes in American History,” a medical marijuana letter, and a knife sharpener from Ocampo’s Yorba Linda home the day after he was arrested.
• Feb. 7, 2012 — Police seized multiple cellphones, family photographs, a Lotto ticket, and “sorrowful writings” from the Yorba Linda home where a mother and her older son were found dead Oct. 25.
• Mar. 9, 2012 — Ocampo was ordered to be returned to court in September to stand trial, and was scheduled to return to court Sept. 10; he was also due in court March 16 to be arraigned on all six deaths.
• Sept. 10 — Ocampo was ordered to be returned to court.

The offence

Ocampo faced allegations involving the stabbing deaths of four homeless men in Orange County between Dec. 20 and Jan. 13.

The accused homicides of homeless men included:

• James McGillivray, 53, stabbed numerous times while sleeping on the side of a business in a Placentia shopping center on Dec. 20.
• Lloyd “Jim” Middaugh, 42, found in a riverbed on Dec. 28.
• Paulus Smit, 57, stabbed to death in Yorba Linda on Dec. 30.
• John Barry, 64, stabbed behind a Carl’s Jr. behind a Carl’s Jr. in a busy shopping center on Jan. 13.

Authorities also linked Ocampo to killings in Yorba Linda, including:

• Raquel Estrada, 53, found in the kitchen of a Yorba Linda home lying on her back “with several puncture wounds” to her chest.
• Juan Herrera, 34, found on his stomach in the home “with several puncture wounds to his back.”

Ocampo was charged with the stabbings of Raquel Estrada and Juan Herrera. Prosecutors said Ocampo was indicted in connection with a string of killings. Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Price indicated the charges could include the death penalty.

The allegations described each stabbing as involving multiple wounds, including:

• Prosecutors said one of the victims was stabbed more than 60 times in the upper body.
• Police later described each man as suffering at least 40 lacerations to their body.

Investigation

Investigators recovered and examined evidence connected to Ocampo’s home and the killings.

From Ocampo’s Yorba Linda home and related documents:

• Authorities recovered dark clothing.
• Authorities recovered a book titled “The Most Notorious Crimes in American History.”
• A medical marijuana letter was recovered.
• A knife sharpener was recovered.
• A Farberware knife sharpener was found in Ocampo’s bedroom in a search warrant filed Jan. 20.
• Various pieces of dark clothing, including five black long-sleeved shirts, were recovered.
• Police recovered additional items including:
  • a black ski mask, black hat, wallet and sunglasses seen on a kitchen table in the Yorba Linda home where Raquel Estrada and Juan Herrera were found dead;
  • on Jan. 14 investigators obtained a cheek swab from Ocampo and collected other items and biological material, including swabs of DNA from Ocampo’s bathroom shower drain and from the sink;
  • various white T-shirts, blue and black jeans, black dress pants, a toothbrush, a Dell computer, a black MEU Airsoft pistol, Caterpillar boots, and white socks, among other items;
  • a white towel, kitchen knives, a CVS receipt, cameras and computers from the Yorba Linda home tied to the Oct. 25 deaths;
  • evidence seizure included a Sprint cellphone number obtained from a rental application for the home in Eder Herrera’s name.

Orange County District Atty. Tony Rackauckas said at a news conference that Ocampo stalked his victims and had more killings planned.

Anaheim Police Det. Mark Lillemoen described stabbings in connection with surveillance:

• Lillemoen said he reviewed surveillance video showing the suspect stabbing James McGillivray with “a large, fixed-blade knife” later identified by Rackauckas as a single-edged, 7-inch KA-BAR Bull Dozer knife.
• Lillemoen obtained surveillance video from a Bank of America branch in Yorba Linda near where Paulus Smit was stabbed to death Dec. 30; the video showed a male dressed in a dark beanie, dark long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and dark-colored gloves walking toward the crime scene.
• Lillemoen detailed the Jan. 13 stabbing of John Barry behind a Carl’s Jr.

Arrest and events surrounding capture

Ocampo was arrested after a chase and capture following the attack on John Barry.

Donald Hopkins, 32, witnessed the incident:

• Hopkins was described as a forklift operator in a warehouse.
• Hopkins was inside a nearby CVS when a man ran into the store screaming for help.
• Hopkins dropped his groceries and ran outside, stating he “wish[ed]” he could explain it and that he “just reacted.”
• Hopkins said he noticed “tunnel vision” on the killer, whose back was facing him.
• Hopkins said he started yelling repeatedly, “Hey, stop!”
• Hopkins stated that when Hopkins was about 15 feet away, Ocampo turned his entire body, glanced at him and sprinted across the parking lot.
• Hopkins said he ran after him and that he “never looked back.”
• Hopkins described his hands attempting to dial 911 twice before he had to stop to complete the call.
• Hopkins saw Ocampo shed a sweatshirt and gloves.
• After police arrived, Hopkins pointed authorities toward the direction Ocampo ran.
• Hopkins told investigators he “approached the crowd and saw Ocampo stabbing a male transient four to five times.”

Officials and residents honored Hopkins for his role in capture; Hopkins received a $5,000 check and a plaque from the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs.

Ocampo also was placed on psychological watch at the Orange County jail in Santa Ana after being arrested.

Charging and court proceedings

Ocampo was indicted last month for the string of killings and was ordered to return to court in September to stand trial.

At one court appearance on Mar. 9, 2012:

• Ocampo appeared in court with a welt on his forehead.
• His attorney said he suffered the injury when he banged his head against a toilet or bench in his jail cell.
• Ocampo’s family wept when he was brought into the courtroom.
• Attorney Randall Longwith said his client was concerned about declining weight.
• Longwith said Ocampo was behaving erratically and complained that he hears voices.
• Longwith said his client was suffering from tics and headaches.
• Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Price said such erratic behavior was not unusual for a person facing such serious charges and possibly the death penalty, and she said claims about his behavior could be related to the defense Longwith said he intends to mount.
• Longwith said Ocampo was definitely suffering from mental illness.
• Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Price stated: “He's a very intelligent man who acted very rationally during the course of the killings.”
• Longwith said: “I think his diagnosis is going to be pretty extensive.”

Charges and potential penalties described in the proceedings included:

• Ocampo was charged with four counts of special-circumstances murder in the homicides, and was subject to the death penalty.
• Authorities later said Ocampo was due in court March 16 to be arraigned on all six deaths.
• If convicted, Ocampo faced life in prison without parole.

Evidence and the Oct. 25 deaths (Yorba Linda)

Around the Oct. 25 killings:

• At 11:29, officers responded to a 911 call from a pay phone about a mile away.
• The caller was described as “male, spoke in a low volume,” and said loud noises were coming from the home.
• The man hung up abruptly.
• On arrival, officers found a large amount of blood at the threshold of the front door.
• Drag marks led into the home.
• An officer saw a female later identified as Raquel Estrada, 53, lying on her back “with several puncture wounds” to her chest.
• A bloody steak knife was located approximately 3 feet from her head, “according to the search warrant.”
• Another officer found Juan Herrera on his stomach “with several puncture wounds to his back.”
• Police noticed “large amounts of blood throughout the house.”
• On the kitchen table police saw a black ski mask, black hat, wallet and sunglasses, according to the papers.
• “Sorrowful writings” were found in Eder Herrera’s bedroom during a search conducted Oct. 26.
• Police also collected Eder Herrera’s tax return, a fitness membership card, and various other items in the room.
• In addition, police seized a white towel, kitchen knives, a CVS receipt, cameras and computers from the home.
• The search warrant asked for information from a Sprint cellphone number obtained from a rental application for the home in Eder Herrera’s name.

Eder Herrera, 24, was originally facing the murder charges but was released after prosecutors discovered a DNA link between evidence collected from Ocampo’s home and the Yorba Linda crime scene.

Other statements and character information

Family and friends described Ocampo’s background, mental health symptoms, and military service after his return.

Ocampo’s father, Refugio Ocampo, described his son after Iraq:

• Refugio Ocampo said: “I saw him so many times giving the last money he had in his pocket ... to the homeless, to the people that (are) asking for some help. ... My son's always been a role model,” in a video interview posted on Orange County Register website.
• Refugio Ocampo said: “They killed the person he was. And that's the only possibility I can think of that he would do something like that.”
• Refugio Ocampo said: “Once he received the news he was never the same. He said terrible things are going to happen. The end of the world is coming. He started searching for hidden things that weren't there, like guns and knives,” describing the effect of news that a close friend of his from the Marines died in Afghanistan in 2010.
• Refugio Ocampo said: “He was very worried about me,” describing a visit just days before arrest where his son warned him about danger on the streets.
• Refugio Ocampo said: “I told him, "Don't worry. I'm a survivor. Nothing will happen to me".”

Longwith said during the Mar. 9, 2012 court proceeding that Ocampo “I think his diagnosis is going to be pretty extensive.”

Ocampo’s brother Mixcoatl Ocampo, 17, told the LA Times about Ocampo:

• “He was always paranoid. He would search the closet and bathrooms of the home for bombs. I would tell him to stop being crazy.”

A neighbor who was a Vietnam veteran and Ocampo’s father both tried to push Ocampo to get treatment at a veteran’s hospital, but he refused.

Ocampo’s family described a physical condition:

• His hands shook and he suffered headaches.
• Medical treatments helped until he started drinking heavily.

A family friend described changes after deployment:

• Fellow Marine Robert Hays, who met Ocampo at basic training in San Diego in 2006, told the Los Angeles Times: “He came back totally changed. It was almost like he didn't care anymore. He'd get fidgety, he'd start shaking, spacing out. You'd see him staring off.”
• Robert Hays also was quoted as saying he thought the 23-year-old was “motivated and gung-ho.”

Jesus Balbuena, who was Ocampo’s roommate at Camp Pendleton after his return from Iraq, said Ocampo:

• “wake up screaming at the top of his lungs twice a week. He would have flashbacks.”
• Balbuena added that Ocampo “would often weep as he talked about his family's demise into financial hardship.”

Bonnie Tisdale, Ocampo’s supervisor at Camp Pendleton, told The Times:

• “Regardless of what he's been accused of, I trust him with my life,” and
• “He's a veteran who did not get the help he needed. ”
• “It's traumatising over there and it is difficult for Marines to come and ask for psychological help. Whether he's proven innocent or guilty, he is our brother. We are his family.”

Ocampo’s own statements to family were described:

• Ocampo’s father said he “has repeatedly attempted to visit his son at the Orange County jail but has been turned away,” adding: “They won't let us see him, even though the whole world is against him.”
• Ocampo’s father also said investigators came to him on Friday night and showed surveillance photos from a crime scene, but he did not recognize his son as the person in the images.
• Ocampo’s father said: “If he did it, it wasn't right, obviously. But there's something wrong with him,” recounting what Ocampo’s father said.

A school friend, Brian Doyle, portrayed Ocampo:

• Doyle said Ocampo liked to hit on girls when he joined the military.
• Doyle said after discharge Ocampo became isolated and trusted no one, and Doyle described difficulty explaining the change, saying: “He went from being a tall, geeky kid, really fun-loving...,” then trailing off.

Other detailed background included:

• Ocampo followed a friend into the Marine Corps right out of high school in 2006 instead of going to college as his father had hoped.
• His mother, who speaks little English, brought out Marine Corps dress uniform, photos, citations and medals from his military service.
• His family described he was assigned to meet and inspect wounded when they were flown in from combat zones en route to the hospital in Iraq.
• His family said he ended up homeless after losing a job as a warehouse manager, living under a bridge before sheltering in the cab of a broken-down truck he was helping repair.
• A Veterans Administration diagnosis was described as psychological problems.
• His father said he lost his job, ran out of savings, lost his house, and separated from his wife.

People named

• Itzcoatl Ocampo (23) — defendant; former Marine accused in connection with six deaths.
• Raquel Estrada (53) — victim.
• Juan Herrera (34) — victim.
• Eder Herrera (24) — originally faced murder charges; released after prosecutors discovered a DNA link between evidence collected from Ocampo’s home and the Yorba Linda crime scene.
• James McGillivray (53) — victim.
• Lloyd “Jim” Middaugh (42) — victim.
• Paulus Smit (57) — victim.
• John Barry (64) — victim.
• Donald Hopkins (32) — witness to the stabbing of John Barry; assisted police in capture.
• Randall Longwith — Ocampo’s attorney.
• Susan Price — Deputy District Attorney.
• Tony Rackauckas — Orange County District Attorney.
• Mark Lillemoen — Anaheim Police detective.
• John Welter — Anaheim Police Chief.
• Refugio Ocampo (49) — Ocampo’s father.
• Mixcoatl Ocampo (17) — Ocampo’s brother.
• Robert Hays — fellow Marine; met Ocampo at basic training in 2006.
• Jesus Balbuena — Ocampo’s roommate at Camp Pendleton.
• Bonnie Tisdale (27) — Ocampo’s supervisor at Camp Pendleton.
• Brian Doyle (23) — school friend.
• Mueller — not named; “The Times” and other publication references appeared but do not identify additional individuals in the record.

Status

Ocampo was in prison awaiting trial and was ordered to be returned to court in September to stand trial. He was due in court March 16 to be arraigned on all six deaths.