Iraq War Veteran Charged In Murders Of 4 Homeless Men

January 17, 2012 11:40 PM

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LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced Tuesday that criminal charges are being filed against an Iraq war veteran accused of murdering four homeless men in Orange County.

Itzcoatl Ocampo, of Yorba Linda, has been charged with four counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders lying in wait. Rackauckas says a decision has not been made on whether to seek the death penalty.

“This 23-year-old young man was a vicious killer…a monster,” Rackauckas said.

Ocampo was arrested Friday after he allegedly stabbed 64-year-old Vietnam veteran John Berry to death. All of Ocampo’s alleged victims were stabbed at least a dozen times with a seven-inch KA-BAR knife made of heavy metal, Rackauckas said.

His father, Refugio Ocampo, tried to meet with his son at the Orange County jail Monday, but was turned away because Ocampo is in isolation on medical hold.

Ocampo says his son returned from Iraq a changed man, expressing disillusionment as he struggled to find his way.

“He started talking about stuff that didn’t make any sense to me, like the end of the world. Something big coming, like a big war, a big war,” Ocampo said.

However, he maintains his son is innocent and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“The authorities basically have been criminalizing him,” he told CBS2. “Make my son look like a criminal, like a monster.”

Ocampo is expected to be arraigned 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Iraq War Veteran Charged In Murders Of 4 Homeless Men

http://cbsla.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/memorial-service-for-slain-homeless-man-held-at-bench-near-santa-ana-river/ Memorial Service For Slain Homeless Man Held At Bench Near Santa Ana River « CBS Los Angeles

[...] Ocampo, 23, a Marine veteran who served a tour in Iraq in 2008, was taken into custody last Friday when witnesses chased the suspect and pointed him out to [...]
p!ssing warrior

This is why I give everything I own to the P!ssing Warrior Project. I’m still waiting for my signed book from its chickenhawk founder.
Frank

This is the problem. We allow these kind of people into this country. If the Mexican was blocked from entering, those poor people would still be alive. Very sad indeed.
Crystal

This young man committed a very heinous crime, but he did at least serve this nation which is more than can be said for many. This whole situation is an utter tragedy for the victims & their families as well as him & his family. His service in the military is no excuse for his actions, but the many facts regarding his disillusionment with the treatment of our vets and the unfulfilled promises is not a limited situation. Hopefully this will draw attention to all that is not done to help our vets after they come home from service.
Art

It’s fun to see all the Goofy White People blame all their Problems on someone else
http://myidate.wordpress.com Moderator

I just saw an article someone wrote about one of the homeless men a while ago. He inspired happiness and went about with an enthusiastic smile: http://blog.phil-anderegg.com/?p=1636
CCTEACHER

THANK YOU DONNY FOR CATCHING THE SERIAL KILLER. ALTHOUGH IT’S BEEN VERY SAD LATELY IN YOUR CITY, I’M JUST HAPPY AS MANY OTHERS ARE THAT YOUR BRAVERY WILL SAVE OTHERS FROM THE SAME POSSIBLE PLIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN.
http://propertycloud.co.za/2012/01/iraq-war-veteran-to-be-charged-in-murders-of-4-homeless-men/ Iraq War Veteran To Be Charged In Murders Of 4 Homeless Men – Property Cloud

[...] Read the full story and more. [...]