Daniel Wozniak, 26 (Costa Mesa Police Dept.) |
SANTA ANA -- Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for an actor accused of beheading a neighbor, scattering his limbs in a park and killing the victim's friend.
The district attorney's office said Thursday that Daniel Wozniak is eligible for the death penalty because the crimes involve multiple murders and murder for financial gain.
Prosecutors allege the 26-year-old Wozniak killed Samuel Herr to steal his money and then lured Juri Kibuishi to Herr's apartment via a text message.
Wozniak allegedly murdered the 23-year-old woman to make it look like Herr raped and killed her.
Herr's body parts were found in a Long Beach park.
Authorities say they arrested Wozniak after a 17-year-old boy tried to use Herr's ATM card on Wozniak's instructions.
Wozniak did not enter a plea and his arraignment was postponed until June 25th.
He is being held without bail.
Wozniak recently starred in the lead role as Guido Contini in the musical "Nine" at the Hunger Artists Theatre Company in Fullerton.
He was scheduled to get married this past weekend to Rachel Buffett, an actress he met while working at Hunger Artists.
According to Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy he was arrested during his bachelor party Wednesday night at a Huntington Beach restaurant.
Costa Mesa police detectives found Herr's severed head in a Long Beach park Saturday. The victim's hand and arm were found there earlier this week.
Police initially suspected Herr in the killing, because he had disappeared.
The district attorney's office said Thursday that Daniel Wozniak is eligible for the death penalty because the crimes involve multiple murders and murder for financial gain.
Prosecutors allege the 26-year-old Wozniak killed Samuel Herr to steal his money and then lured Juri Kibuishi to Herr's apartment via a text message.
Wozniak allegedly murdered the 23-year-old woman to make it look like Herr raped and killed her.
Herr's body parts were found in a Long Beach park.
Authorities say they arrested Wozniak after a 17-year-old boy tried to use Herr's ATM card on Wozniak's instructions.
Wozniak did not enter a plea and his arraignment was postponed until June 25th.
He is being held without bail.
Wozniak recently starred in the lead role as Guido Contini in the musical "Nine" at the Hunger Artists Theatre Company in Fullerton.
He was scheduled to get married this past weekend to Rachel Buffett, an actress he met while working at Hunger Artists.
According to Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy he was arrested during his bachelor party Wednesday night at a Huntington Beach restaurant.
Costa Mesa police detectives found Herr's severed head in a Long Beach park Saturday. The victim's hand and arm were found there earlier this week.
Police initially suspected Herr in the killing, because he had disappeared.
