Andrew Urdiales
SANTA ANA -- A convicted serial killer on death row in Illinois has been indicted in the murders of five Southern California women, including the stabbing death of a student at Saddleback College more than two decades ago.
All the local women were killed between 1986 and 1995 in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.
Andrew Urdiales, 45, has already been convicted of murdering 3 women in Illinois.
Here in Southern California, a criminal complaint was filed today in Superior Court, charging the ex-Marine with the Jan. 18, 1986, murder of Robbin Brandley, 23, who was stabbed 41 times in the college parking lot during a robbery.
Brandley was a volunteer usher at a Saddleback College jazz concert on the evening of January 19, 1986.
Prosecutors say Urdiales drove to the college from Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton armed with a six-inch blade hunting knife with intent to murder a random victim.
Brandley was leaving the concert when she was grabbed from behind.
She was found stabbed 41 times in the school parking lot.
His next four victims were prostitutes, police say.
On July 17, 1988, Urdiales allegedly picked up 29-year-old Julie McGhee in Indian Wells in Riverside County, had sex with her, then shot her in head, stole her ID and left her body in the desert.
Urdiales killed another woman on Sept. 25, 1988, according to prosecutors.
He allegedly picked up 31-year-old Maryann Wells in San Diego, paid her $40 for sex, then shot her in head.
He took back the $40, but left a used condom, according the District Attorney's office.
Another woman died April 16, 1989.
Urdiales allegedly shot Tammie Erwin three times after driving her to a spot near Palm Springs and having sex with her.
The same gun was used to kill McGhee, Wells and Erwin, Orange County investigators said, but Urdiales allegedly disabled it and disposed of the parts.
Four years after Urdiales left the Marines, he allegedly picked up 32-year old Denise Maney, while vacationing in Palm Springs.
Prosecutors said Urdiales drove Maney into the desert, stripped her, tied her hands behind her back and raped her.
Afterward, he allegedly stabbed her to death.
Urdiales is currently appealing a death sentence in Illinois.
He is expected to be extradited to Orange County pending completion of that appeal.
Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy said today that prosecutors wanted to try Urdiales in one trial in Orange County for the sake of family members of victims.
"Andrew Urdiales is just a criminal bottom feeder. He commits the most atrocious crimes for his own personal satisfaction,'' he said.
In November 1996, Urdiales was arrested in Hammond, IN., after police officers observed him in his truck loitering in an area known for prostitution. In a subsequent search of the defendant's vehicle, officers found a firearm, which Urdiales was not permitted to carry.
Urdiales was charged and convicted with a misdemeanor for the unauthorized possession of a handgun.
In April 1997, Illinois officers conducted ballistics testing of the firearm found in Urdiales' vehicle in Indiana, which showed that it was the same firearm used to shoot three women and was arrested for the three murders.
As a result of the 1997 arrest, Urdiales was linked to the five Southern California murders.
In 2002, Urdiales was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to death. That sentence was later commuted to a sentence of life without the possibility of a parole by then-Illinois Governor George Ryan.
In 2004, Urdiales was convicted of the first degree murder of another woman in Livingston County, IL, and was sentenced to receive the death penalty in that case.
All the local women were killed between 1986 and 1995 in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.
Andrew Urdiales, 45, has already been convicted of murdering 3 women in Illinois.
Here in Southern California, a criminal complaint was filed today in Superior Court, charging the ex-Marine with the Jan. 18, 1986, murder of Robbin Brandley, 23, who was stabbed 41 times in the college parking lot during a robbery.
Brandley was a volunteer usher at a Saddleback College jazz concert on the evening of January 19, 1986.
Prosecutors say Urdiales drove to the college from Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton armed with a six-inch blade hunting knife with intent to murder a random victim.
Brandley was leaving the concert when she was grabbed from behind.
She was found stabbed 41 times in the school parking lot.
His next four victims were prostitutes, police say.
On July 17, 1988, Urdiales allegedly picked up 29-year-old Julie McGhee in Indian Wells in Riverside County, had sex with her, then shot her in head, stole her ID and left her body in the desert.
Urdiales killed another woman on Sept. 25, 1988, according to prosecutors.
He allegedly picked up 31-year-old Maryann Wells in San Diego, paid her $40 for sex, then shot her in head.
He took back the $40, but left a used condom, according the District Attorney's office.
Another woman died April 16, 1989.
Urdiales allegedly shot Tammie Erwin three times after driving her to a spot near Palm Springs and having sex with her.
The same gun was used to kill McGhee, Wells and Erwin, Orange County investigators said, but Urdiales allegedly disabled it and disposed of the parts.
Four years after Urdiales left the Marines, he allegedly picked up 32-year old Denise Maney, while vacationing in Palm Springs.
Prosecutors said Urdiales drove Maney into the desert, stripped her, tied her hands behind her back and raped her.
Afterward, he allegedly stabbed her to death.
Urdiales is currently appealing a death sentence in Illinois.
He is expected to be extradited to Orange County pending completion of that appeal.
Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy said today that prosecutors wanted to try Urdiales in one trial in Orange County for the sake of family members of victims.
"Andrew Urdiales is just a criminal bottom feeder. He commits the most atrocious crimes for his own personal satisfaction,'' he said.
In November 1996, Urdiales was arrested in Hammond, IN., after police officers observed him in his truck loitering in an area known for prostitution. In a subsequent search of the defendant's vehicle, officers found a firearm, which Urdiales was not permitted to carry.
Urdiales was charged and convicted with a misdemeanor for the unauthorized possession of a handgun.
In April 1997, Illinois officers conducted ballistics testing of the firearm found in Urdiales' vehicle in Indiana, which showed that it was the same firearm used to shoot three women and was arrested for the three murders.
As a result of the 1997 arrest, Urdiales was linked to the five Southern California murders.
In 2002, Urdiales was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to death. That sentence was later commuted to a sentence of life without the possibility of a parole by then-Illinois Governor George Ryan.
In 2004, Urdiales was convicted of the first degree murder of another woman in Livingston County, IL, and was sentenced to receive the death penalty in that case.
