Convicted Predator Faces Second Count Of Capital Murder In 1986 Slaying Of Boy, 6

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A convicted sexual predator facing a capital murder charge in the killing of a young boy in 1981 has been charged with the murder of a second boy, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said Friday.

Kenneth Kasten Rasmuson was charged Tuesday with a second count of capital murder in the 1986 death of a 6-year-old boy, identified by prosecutors as Miguel Doe, whose body was found in a remote creek bed near his home in Agoura Hills.

Rasmuson was charged in March with the murder of 6-year-old Jeffrey Vargo, who was last seen alive near his Anaheim Hills home as he rode his bike to a fireworks stand on July 2, 1981. His body was found by construction workers in Pomona the next day, and the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office determined Jeffrey had been strangled to death.

Rasmuson, who was convicted in 1981 in Santa Barbara for sodomy of teenager, was arrested at his Idaho home after DNA linked him to Jeffrey's murder. Rasmuson had been identified in Miguel Doe's murder as a potential suspect, but until recently investigators did not have enough evidence to move forward on the case.

After his arrest in the Pomona case, homicide detectives renewed interest in Miguel Doe's cold case, which was finally linked by DNA to Rasmuson, Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said.

Prosecutors say Miguel was killed during the commission of a lewd or lascivious act.

Rasmuson, who is being held without bail, is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Oct. 28.