The South Los Angeles serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper" got his name because he allegedly killed seven women in the South LA area during a three-year period from 1985 to 1988 before coming to a stop for more than a decade, allegedly resuming in 2002 with another killing and continuing in 2003 with another killing and yet another in 2007. Investigators originally thought that no killings occurred from 1989 to 2001, but they have now linked two more deaths to the suspect based upon new evidence and information.

LAPD Det. Dennis Kilcoyne has been leading the investigation. According to a statement reported in the Los Angeles Times, Det. Kilcoyne stated "I don't think there is a gap. We are continuing to examine many, many old cases now we know Mr. Franklin's identity. We are trying to put together other cases."

Lonnie Franklin, Jr. currently faces charges for killing ten people and has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Formal charges have not yet been filed regarding the new killings.

Particularly in ongoing investigations regarding murder or manslaughter, the most important thing a defendant can do is hire a competent  criminal defense lawyer to protect his or her legal rights and interests. Regardless of what you or someone you know may have been accused of, you have the right to due process. Exercise your Constitutional rights by hiring an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case.

This past Friday, a Los Angeles man that sexually assaulted his girlfriend's 11 year old daughter and then killed her was sentenced to death for the second time.  The man, 58 year old James Heard, allegedly killed the girl because she bit off part of his tongue.

In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Heard's conviction, but then overturned his first death sentence.  The Court found that the trial judge improperly excused a man during the jury selection process.

Heard was sentenced again in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the death of Katrina Brown, which occurred in December 1990.  At the time of the crimes, the girl's mother was at work.  Prosecutors say that the girl bit off part of Heard's tongue during the attack.  Heard then poured a bottle of alcohol down the girl's throat in hopes that she would regurgitate his tongue before he strangled her.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer!

This week Friday, a man who pled guilty to raping and murdering a young woman will be sentenced.  The crime took place 15 years ago and the girl's body was found near Cal State San Marcos.

Now, Michael Eddie Williams will be sentenced for the first-degree murder and rape of 18 year old Shannon Conway.  Authorities say Conway was killed in July 1995 and that Williams said her death occurred during the rape.

The prosecution said that Williams, now 37 years old, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Williams was extradited back to California from Mississippi last December after a DNA match linked him to Conway's death.  Before his extradition, Williams was serving a 40 year sentence for raping a child.

If you have been charged with felony offenses, like rape or murder, it is important that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Contact our law office to set up a consultation with an attorney.

In Edgewood, Washington, four robbery suspects are still at large after responding to a Craigslist ad for the sale of some jewelry.

Three men and a woman arrived at the home saying they were there to purchase an expensive ring. They showed some cash then pulled out a gun. A man was shot and killed. His fourteen-year-old son attempted to fight off one of the attackers was consequently hit in the head with a gun. A woman, believed to be the man's wife, was tied up and a younger son managed to escape the house to safety. The suspects ransacked the house before leaving stealing more items.
 
Police think this crime may be related to another Craigslist robbery that occurred earlier that same day involving the sale of jewelry, where a man was tied up and his car was stolen.

Both theft and murder carry heavy penalties. If you have been accused of a crime in the Los Angeles area, it’s imperative that you contact a  Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to avoid the serious repercussions associated with a conviction. Contact Okabe & Haushalter today to learn more about the ways we can defend your case and help you fight your charges!  

A Los Angeles County jury has recommended life in prison without parole for two men convicted of murdering a man and his stepdaughter on New Year's Eve in 2006.

A judge has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Matthew Ian Koontz, 36, and Jonathan Blackwell, 29. Koontz and Blackwell were convicted in January of first-degree murder for killing Raul Cruz and Jessica Cipriano.

Cruz and Cipriano were fatally shot when Koontz and Blackwell broke into their apartment on December 31, 2006. Micaela Estrada, Cipriano's mother and Cruz's common-law wife, was wounded.

The wife of an Olympic medalist accused of first-degree murder still remains in custody after a judge lowered her bail to $1 million.

Jane Laut is accused of murdering her husband, Dave Laut. Laut won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic games. Laut pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Laut initially told investigators that her husband went outside to investigate shooting sounds, and moments later she heard shots fired. Police believed Laut at first, but then was able to determine that the killing was not a random act of violence committed by intruders.

Laut’s attorney, Ron Bamieh, said his client was acting in self-defense, contradicting the comments previously made by Laut when she was first questioned about the killings. According to Bamieh, Dave Laut got drunk and threatened to kill Jane, their son, and their dogs. Dave Laut’s BAC at the time of his death was .05 percent.

A teenager has been arrested on murder charges for allegedly killing a gang intervention worker.

According to police, 40-year-old Ronald Barron confronted the teen as he was tagging a wall on Pico Boulevard. The teen then pulled out a gun and shot Barron.

Barron, who worked as a gang intervention worker with the Amer-I-can program, was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to witnesses, the teenager calmly walked away from the scene after shooting Barron, disappearing into a residential area. He was later apprehended by gang and homicide detectives. The suspect is not believed to be associated with any gangs, but is a known tagger. His name is not being released due to his age, which is 16.

Nothing is more serious than being charged with murder, especially murder in the first degree. If you or a family member has been arrested for murder, hiring a highly skilled criminal defense attorney is absolutely essential. At Okabe & Haushalter, we are committed to helping clients throughout Los Angeles and South Bay fight their criminal charges. Whether you are facing a simple misdemeanor or a life-changing felony, such as murder, you can trust a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter to work diligently in pursuing the best possible end result for you!

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to learn more about our criminal defense services.

A 14-year-old Colorado boy is being tried as an adult for the murder of his parents.

John Caudle admitted to authorities that he killed his mother and stepfather because he didn't want to do his chores.

According to police, Caudle took two .22 caliber pistols from his parents' gun safe and fatally shot his mother after they got into an argument over taking out the trash. He then hid in the laundry room until his stepfather walked by. That's when he shot and killed him.

Shortly after killing his parents Caudle proceeded to play on a computer and watch movies. He even went to school the next morning before trying to flee in the family's truck.

Authorities have chosen to charge Caudle as an adult. Because he is technically a minor, they could have tried him in juvenile court. When minors are tried as adults it is usually because they not only committed a heinous crime, but also because they fully understood the consequences of their actions at the time the crime took place.  

Caudle faces two counts of first-degree murder. Because he is being tried as an adult he could be sentenced to a lifetime in prison if he is found guilty.

A Covina man is facing murder charges after fatally stabbing his two-year-old son following a fight with his girlfriend.

When officers from the Covina Police Department got to the house, they noticed Alex Trujillo acting erratically. He also had a knife in his hand and tried to stab himself several times. Once police finally got inside the home, they were able to restrain Trujillo. That’s when they noticed the wounded boy.

Both Trujillo and his son were rushed to County-USC Medical Center. The boy later died from his injuries.

According to police the incident stemmed from a fight that occurred earlier in the day between Trujillo and his girlfriend, the boy’s mother. They began arguing after she told Trujillo she wanted to end their 4-year relationship.

Trujillo was arrested for murder and is being held in custody on $1 million bail. An arraignment is scheduled for today.