Lloyd Middaugh, a 42-year-old homeless man, was found dead on December 28, 2011, near a riverbed trail in Anaheim, California. His death was part of a disturbing string of murders targeting homeless individuals in Orange County. Middaugh, who was Caucasian, was the second victim in a series of fatal stabbings that had put the homeless community on high alert.
Authorities were deeply concerned about the pattern emerging, as the killings appeared to be connected.
The first victim, 53-year-old James McGillivray, was discovered near a shopping center in Placentia on December 20, 2011. Middaugh's body was found just over a week later, followed by the murder of 57-year-old Paulus Smit outside a Yorba Linda library on December 30, 2011. The attacks were brutal, and the victims were seemingly chosen at random, heightening fears among the homeless population.
Investigators launched a special task force, including FBI agents and local law enforcement, to track down the perpetrator. Their efforts led to the arrest of 23-year-old Itzcoatl Ocampo, a former Marine from Yorba Linda, California. Ocampo was apprehended on January 13, 2012, after allegedly stabbing another homeless man, John Berry, in Anaheim. Witnesses pursued Ocampo after the attack, leading police to arrest him. Authorities later stated they were 'extremely confident' that Ocampo was responsible for all four murders.
Ocampo was charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Reports indicated that he had stalked his victims before attacking them, spending hours walking along the Santa Ana River Trail searching for his next target. His arrest brought some relief to the homeless community, but the tragic loss of Middaugh and the other victims left a lasting impact on the area. In response to the killings, local organizations distributed flashlights and whistles to homeless individuals in an effort to help them protect themselves.
