Arraignment for Suspected Serial Killer Postponed

Orange County - Arraignment was postponed today for a former Marine suspected in what prosecutors call the "thrill killings" of four homeless men in Orange County, with a defense attorney saying he has not had a chance to review the allegations or speak extensively with his client.

Itzcoatl Ocampo, 23, of Yorba Linda, remains jailed without bail. His arraignment was rescheduled for Feb. 17.

Defense attorney Randall Longwith told reporters after the hearing he has had less than a minute to talk to his client since his arrest Friday, so he asked for a delay in the arraignment.

"I had no basis for a plea at this point," Longwith said.

Ocampo was charged Tuesday with four counts of murder for the killing spree that began Dec. 20 and ended Friday, when the suspect was chased down by witnesses and arrested.

Ocampo is in a "protective gown" -- also known as a "suicide blanket" -- in an isolation cell of the medical ward where he is monitored around the clock, according to Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Ocampo, who bounced his knee nervously during part of today's hearing, will undergo a mental evaluation today.

Longwith said sheriff's officials have prevented him and the defendant's family from visiting Ocampo. The defense attorney obtained an order from a judge Tuesday forcing sheriff's officials to allow him to meet with his client, he said.

Ocampo had a "distanced" look in his eyes when he spoke with his client through a small slot of the cell where food is passed, Longwith said.

But he did not know if that was because Ocampo was on medication.

"He looks frightened in there, starry-eyed," Longwith said.

Longwith said he has been advised that Ocampo has "been sleeping most of the time" in custody.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told reporters that Ocampo "appears to be lucid, calm, intelligent."

Rackauckas appeared at the hearing, along with the prosecutor on the case, Deputy District Attorney Susan Price. He later told reporters he would expect an insanity defense because there is "strong evidence" against Ocampo.

But making a case that Ocampo suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because of his time in the military will be a tough defense to mount, Rackauckas predicted.

"That's not going to fly as a defense," Rackauckas said, adding he suspects Ocampo was a "thrill killer," or the type of person "who wants to kill people just because he wants to."

Rackauckas acknowledged reports that Ocampo was generous to the homeless.

"We see this sort of behavior in other aspects of his life. He seems like a pretty good guy," Rackauckas said. "But this is a serious, vicious killer."

Ocampo was arrested Friday night when witnesses chased him from the scene of the most recent slaying, which occurred behind the Carl's Jr. at 3110 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, according to police.

Rackauckas said at a news conference Tuesday that the Iraq War veteran was a "vicious killer," a "monster" who stalked his victims and planned more killings. The district attorney declined to discuss a possible motive for the attacks but said Ocampo, whose father is homeless, "appeared to like the press coverage."

The charges against Ocampo include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait, making him eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. If prosecutors elect not to seek capital punishment, he would face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rackauckas said Ocampo targeted the fourth victim, 64-year-old Vietnam veteran John Berry, after seeing his photo and quotes in a story in the Los Angeles Times about the homeless murders.

"The evidence is going to show in this case that the defendant sought out this victim for participating in this article," Rackauckas said. "He stalked this victim until he got his prey."

Berry, who slept along the Santa Ana River bed, had called police to say he was worried someone was stalking him, said Anaheim police Chief John Welter. Officers asked him if he wanted to go to a shelter, but he said he preferred to stay on the street and felt he could defend himself, Welter said.

The first of Ocampo's alleged victims was 53-year-old James McGillivray, who was attacked as he slept outside a Placentia shopping center on Dec. 20. Eight days later, the body of Lloyd "Jim" Middaugh, 42, turned up on Anaheim's Santa Ana River Trail.

Paulus Cornelius "Dutch" Smit, 57, was found dead behind the Yorba Linda library on Dec. 30.

Once detectives determined that a serial murderer was at work, a task force comprised of personnel from the FBI, Orange County Sheriff's Department and the police departments of Anaheim, Placentia and Brea/Yorba Linda was formed.

Ocampo is a 2006 graduate of Esperanza High School who served an eight-month deployment in Iraq in 2008 and was discharged in July 2010, according to Marine Corps Capt. Kevin Schultz.

While in the military, he earned the Sea Service Deployment ribbon in Iraq, an Iraq Campaign medal with one