Tony Protopappas

Case name

Tony Protopappas

Background

Tony Protopappas was a local dentist. He operated a high-volume, heavily-advertised dental clinic for nine years until he was convicted in 1984.

The offence

Protopappas was charged with murdering three patients with anesthetics over a period spanning late 1982 and early 1983. The charges alleged that he deliberately overdosed three female patients, causing their deaths in his office.

Kim Minna Andreassen, age 23, was described as an 88-pound dialysis patient. She died on September 30, 1982, after Protopappas injected her with nine different anesthetic drugs during an operation to remove her wisdom teeth.

Cathryn Louise Jones, age 31, was described as having been dispatched on February 13, 1983.

Patricia Marguerite Craven, age 13, was described as the final victim, murdered six days later. Another stated date in the complaint was February 19.

Investigation

Arrest warrants were issued in Costa Mesa, California, charging Protopappas with murdering three patients over the past six months.

Judge Stephen Stewart of the Orange County Municipal Court signed an arrest warrant setting bail at $500,000.

A three-count complaint accused the dentist of killing:

• Kim Minna Andreassen on Sept. 30
• Cathryn Louise Jones on Feb. 13
• Patricia Marguerite Craven on Feb. 19

Arrest and surrender

Protopappas surrendered on April 12, after the arrest warrants were issued. He was booked on the three murder charges immediately after his arraignment in Orange County’s Harbor Municipal Court.

Judge Selim Franklin set bail at $500,000 but said he would lower the amount if Protopappas put up his Laguna Beach home, a mountain cabin, and his office building as collateral. The defense attorney, Stanford Shaw, estimated the property was worth $300,000.

The deputy district attorney, Jim Cloninger, opposed a bail reduction, saying: "it would be a logical conclusion"

Plea and trial

A not guilty plea was entered by the dentist in the deaths of three patients.

The jury convicted Protopappas on three counts of second-degree murder after four months of testimony and five days of intense deliberation.

Sentencing

On October 22, 1984, Protopappas was sentenced to concurrent terms of fifteen years to life on each conviction.

The judge said: "It's very difficult and very sad. Dr. Protopappas's life is basically destroyed forever."

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Protopappas received three concurrent terms of fifteen years to life.

Aftermath

In parole-related proceedings, Protopappas was rejected in a bid for parole. He was not able to re-apply for parole until 2010.

During a parole hearing at Folsom Prison, Protopappas, now 61, admitted for the first time that he killed the three victims. Deputy District Attorney Matt Lockhart opposed Protopappas’ release and argued that Protopappas was attempting to take responsibility for his crimes to enhance his chance for parole without providing substance. Protopappas declined to elaborate on exactly what he did that caused the deaths of his patients.

It was stated that Protopappas had been abusing cocaine and alcohol for two years before the deaths, and he had admitted this during prior parole consideration hearings.

Other details

• Protopappas was described as charging three patients with murder using anesthesia procedures he knew were inherently dangerous and likely to cause death.
• Authorities stated that all three patients were anesthesized by Dr. Protopappas shortly before death.
• A deputy district attorney stated the bail-reduction position by opposing reduction on the basis that it would logically conclude Protopappas might try to flee prosecution.