Orange County investigators were working today to determine if there is a connection between the fatal stabbings of a Yorba Linda woman and her son in October and the slayings of four homeless men by an accused "thrill killer."
When Itzcoatl "Izzy" Ocampo, 23, was arrested last month, police began considering a possible connection to the Oct. 25 murders of Raquel Estrada, 53, and her son Juan Herrera, 34, in their home in Yorba Linda, the Orange County Register reported on its website.
Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy, who is prosecuting both cases and who confirmed the investigation for the Register, said today he cannot comment further. Susan Kang Schroeder, chief of staff for Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas declined to comment.
Messages left with Yorba Linda police were not immediately returned. Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn referred inquiries to the District Attorney's Office.
Eder Herrera, the son and brother of the victims in the Oct. 25 slayings in Yorba Linda, has been charged with murder in connection with that case.
Investigators were looking at the similarities in the deaths of the Herreras and the homeless men, including the fact that Ocampo lived less than two miles from the Herreras, the Register reported, quoting Gundy, the prosecutor on both Ocampo's and Herrera's cases.
Ocampo's attorney, Randall Longwith, said he was unaware of the investigation.
The defense attorney noted that police were also questioning Ocampo on whether he had any involvement in the recent dismemberment murder in Hollywood.
"Every defense attorney with a stabbing in Orange County is going to try to pin it on (Ocampo)," Longwith said.
Longwith, who had trouble seeing his client initially, said he has had regular visits with the former Marine, but that he still has a "distanced" look in his eyes.
"It's a slow process to try to break through this," Longwith said, adding Ocampo appears to have a "thousand yard stare," in their discussions.
"I go in to talk to him for an hour at a time to try to break it all down a little bit," Longwith said, adding Ocampo is not on any medication at this time.
Ocampo is no longer wearing the "suicide blanket," a protective gown for inmates considered a danger to themselves or others, Longwith said.
