Death-Penalty - Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo

Woman Kills Her Two Children Then Attempts Suicide in Orange County

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:20:00 GMT

The arraignment for Marilyn Edge was to occur on October 25 2013; however, in court on October 25th the arraignment was delayed until Dec. 13, 2013. She is being charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of her children, 10 year old Faith and 13 year old Jaelen. She is being held without bail. At her original arraignment hearing on September 17, 2013, when asked by the judge in court if she would agree to have her arraignment continued, Edge responded by requesting the death penalty.

The children’s bodies were found in a Santa Ana motel after she had told police where to find their bodies. Edge had crashed her car into metal posts in Costa Mesa in an attempt to kill herself. Police found a propane tank in her car; Edge had wanted to blow up the car with a crash. When the crash did not end her life, she tried strangling herself with electrical wires. Once she was taken out of the car she told police about the children. According to the LA Times the children’s father had full custody and lives in Georgia, while Edge lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. She had brought the kids to California on the pretense of taking them to Disneyland.

NBC 4 Southern California reports on this case, , you can see the video here.

Marine Who Killed Homeless Facing Death Penalty

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:53:00 GMT

Ex-Marine Itzcoatl Ocampo could be sentenced to death if convicted of murder. According to the Orange County Register he is facing six felony counts of murder, with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime, and special circumstances for lying in wait and multiple murders. Media outlets reported about the homeless men that had been stabbed to death and police eventually arresting Ocampo for the crimes. Now he also faces two other murder counts for the deaths of two Yorba Linda residents Raquel Estrada and her son Juan Herrera. Investigators found similarities at the crime scene where Estrada and Herrera were killed, to those of the homeless victims. The grand jury was presented with Ocampo’s interrogation recording where he confesses to the six murders. It is reported that Ocampo explained to authorities that he joined the Marines in order to learn how to kill.

Criminal Law Updates by the Law Offices of Orange County Defense Lawyer William W. Bruzzo (714) 547-4636.

Homeless killings in OC: Prosecutors to seek death penalty (abclocal.go.com)
Death penalty sought for ex-Marine charged in ‘serial thrill-kill spree’ (cnn.com)

Jury Unable to Decide if 1988 Rapist-Killer Should Get Death

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:57:00 GMT

There was still no verdict on the death penalty sentence for Jason Michael Balcom who was convicted in March of murdering and sexually assaulting a pregnant woman in Costa Mesa back in 1988. The DA is pushing for the death penalty on the count of the violent nature of the crime. She had been gagged and bound and stabbed in the chest. Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy explains that Balcom deserve the death penalty because of his previous sexual assault cases. Also based on the tragedy the family had to endure. The defense attorney for Balcom, Dolores Yost argues for life without parole citing his upbringing in shaping his life. This mother was mentally ill, “needy, manipulative and self-absorbed” and her suicide on train tracks providing a troubling childhood for Balcom. The penalty retrial was scheduled to begin on May 14, 2012.

Mexican Drug Lord Pleads Guilty

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:28:00 GMT

The leader of the Tijuana cartel has been convicted of federal charges in a San Diego courthouse. Benjamin Arellano-Felix pled guilty to federal racketeering and money-laundering conspiracy charges, according to the Los Angeles Times. The plea agreement contains a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The typical sentence for a case of this nature would have been a life sentence; his brother Javier Arellano- Felix is serving such a sentence. Benjamin had been extradited from Mexico and therefore could not receive the death penalty under the extradition agreement.

Serial Murderer Will Be Tried In Orange County

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:42:00 GMT

Orange County requested extradition Andrew Urdiales from Illinois to face charges for 5 murder cases spanning three counties. The district attorneys of San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties have decided to have the suspect appear and be tried in Santa Ana for all 5 cases. In Illinois he had received the death penalty for three previous murder cases; in 2002 the governor reduced two of the sentences to life without parole. This year Illinois banned the death penalty, converting Urdiales last death sentence into life without parole. The Orange County DA could decide to seek the death penalty. The case from Orange County took place near Saddleback College in 1986. The victim was leaving the college after ushering a concert when Urdiales stabbed her 41 times with a 6 inch serrated hunting knife. He confessed to the murder in 1997. Urdiales a former Marine was stationed in Camp Pendleton from 1984-1991. The four other murders are said to have occurred up to and including 1995.

Criminal law Updates by the Law Offices of Orange County Defense Attorney William W. Bruzzo (714) 547-4636

Here is KABC-TV Los Angeles coverage.

Home Depot Killing Update

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:13:00 GMT

Jason Russell Richardson sits with his defense team during the opening statement phase of his murder trial April 12 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

In the latest news regarding the case of Tom Egan’s death during a Home Depot robbery, the jury has found Jason R. Richardson guilty of murder and various enhancements. A surveillance video from the incident shows a man with a dust mask and white coveralls in the store with a shot gun. The prosecutor described Richardson shooting Egan as a senseless act, practically disregarding human life over money in a cash register. The Public Defender’s argument was that Richardson reacted out of panic, basically an unplanned knee jerk reaction to Egan’s presence. The enhancements to the murder count subjects Richardson to the possibility of a death penalty sentence.

Fortune Teller Killing Update

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:34:00 GMT

Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Fasel upheld the death penalty sentence for Tanya Nelson for the killing of Ha Smith and her daughter Anita Vo. The crime occurred in 2005 in Westminster at the residence and business of Smith. The motive was based on Smith, a fortuneteller, giving Nelson a fortune that did not come true. As the sentencing was argued defense attorney Kenneth Reed submitted a motion to lower the penalty to life in prison, Judge Fasel denied the motion. Orange County Prosecutor Sonia Balleste argued for the death penalty since Nelson showed no remorse for the crimes. Nelson continues to state that she is innocent.

Fortune Teller Murder Orange County

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:10:00 GMT

A death penalty hearing is set for Tanya Jaime Nelson in Orange County Superior Court; she was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for stabbing Ha “Jade” Smith and her daughter Anita Vo. The motive for the murders was that Ha Smith a fortune teller, told Nelson she would do better by moving her business to North Carolina. In the end Nelson’s business relocation failed and she lost her house. Her co-defendant Phillipe Zamora who was also charged with two counts of first-degree murder, agreed to testify against Nelson in exchange for a 50 year to life prison sentence, avoiding the death penalty. Zamora testified he agreed to travel with Nelson to Orange County because she would in turn introduce him to gay sexual partners according to the Orange County Register. He described the April 21, 2005 incident in which he and Nelson were at the victim’s home, which doubled as her place of business. He explained how his co-defendant stabbed Vo which made Smith scream and Nelson yell “Don’t let her scream!” Zamora’s reaction was to hit Smith with a wine bottle and once on the floor stabbed her with two knives. Before leaving the residence Nelson took some jewelry, credit cards and money. In the end the stolen credit cards she used led to her arrest in addition to police finding she had a scheduled appointment on the day of the murders.