OC Officials Want Former Marine, Convicted Illinois Serial Killer Back In Southland For 5 Murders
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Orange County prosecutors are seeking to extradite serial murderer and former Marine Andrew Urdiales from Illinois, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Urdiales was indicted in December 2009 for allegedly killing one woman in Orange County, three in Riverside County, and one in San Diego County between 1986 and 1995 when he was stationed at various Marine Corps facilities in Southern California, Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy said.
Urdiales was on death row in Illinois, but Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn signed a bill Wednesday abolishing the death penalty there, commuting the sentences of 15 defendants to life in prison.
Urdiales was sentenced to death in 2002 in Illinois, but then-Gov. George Ryan commuted his sentence a year later along with many others when he declared a moratorium on executions following reports that several defendants were wrongly convicted.
Orange County prosecutors have notified Gov. Jerry Brown they want him to ask Quinn to help extradite Urdiales to California, Gundy said. The formal request from Brown's office should come next week, Gundy said.
Urdiales repeatedly stabbed 23-year-old Robbin Brandley Jan. 18, 1986, after she left a pianist's concert at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Gundy said.
Urdiales is also charged with the July 17, 1988, fatal shooting of Julie McGee in Indian Wells in Riverside County, Gundy said. He picked up the 29- year-old prostitute and had sex with her before shooting her in the head, Gundy said.
Urdiales is also accused of picking up 31-year-old prostitute Maryann Wells in San Diego and shooting her in the head after having sex with her Sept. 25, 1988, Gundy said.
Tammie Erwin was shot three times and died April 16, 1989, after Urdiales drove her to a spot near Palm Springs and had sex with her, Gundy said.
Urdiales is also charged with the 1995 killing of Denise Maney, a 32- year-old prostitute he allegedly picked up while vacationing in Palm Springs, Gundy said.
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