Itzcoatl Misael Ocampo: The Orange County Homeless Murders
Background
Itzcoatl Misael Ocampo was a former United States Marine who was accused of killing six people in Orange County, California, during a series of stabbing attacks between October 2011 and January 2012. Four of the victims were homeless men who were attacked in public places or outdoor areas where they slept. The other two victims were the mother and older brother of one of Ocampo’s former high school classmates.
Ocampo was born in Mexico City on March 20, 1988, and moved to Southern California with his family while he was still young. He attended Esperanza High School in Anaheim and later enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served for approximately four years and was deployed to Iraq in 2008. He was honorably discharged in 2010 and returned to Orange County.
Relatives and acquaintances later described significant changes in Ocampo’s behavior following his military service. They said he became increasingly isolated, troubled and suspicious. Reports surrounding the case described his struggles with depression, alcohol abuse, paranoia and possible post-traumatic stress. These issues were discussed extensively after his arrest, but they did not excuse or legally resolve the six murder charges filed against him.
The First Two Killings
The first two killings attributed to Ocampo occurred on October 25, 2011, inside a residence in Yorba Linda. The victims were 53-year-old Raquel Estrada and her 34-year-old son, Juan Herrera. Ocampo knew the family through Estrada’s younger son, Eder Herrera, who had attended high school with him.
Estrada and Juan Herrera were repeatedly stabbed inside their home. Investigators initially focused on Eder Herrera, in part because of reported family disagreements and because witnesses had seen a man leaving the area who generally resembled him. Eder was arrested and questioned but denied killing his mother and brother. As investigators continued gathering evidence, the case remained unresolved for several months.
After Ocampo was arrested in connection with the homeless killings, detectives examined possible links between him and the Yorba Linda double homicide. Prosecutors eventually charged Ocampo with murdering Estrada and Herrera. Authorities alleged that Ocampo had intentionally selected the family because of his prior connection to Eder.
The Attacks on Homeless Men
Nearly two months after the Yorba Linda killings, a series of fatal attacks against homeless men began in northern Orange County. The victims were stabbed in locations where they slept, rested or spent time. The attacks created widespread fear among homeless residents, outreach workers and law-enforcement officials.
The killings occurred in several neighboring cities, including Placentia, Anaheim and Yorba Linda. Investigators from different police departments joined forces after recognizing similarities between the crimes. Authorities increased patrols near shelters, riverbeds, libraries, shopping centers and other places commonly used by people experiencing homelessness.
The attacker appeared to approach vulnerable men at night and stab them repeatedly before fleeing. Police believed the same person was responsible because of similarities in the victims, the weapon used and the manner of the attacks. Surveillance footage, witness descriptions and forensic evidence gradually helped investigators develop a profile of the suspected killer.
Victims and Verified Dates
- Raquel Estrada, 53 – October 25, 2011 – Yorba Linda, California: Estrada was killed inside her home with her adult son. She was the mother of one of Ocampo’s former high school classmates and was repeatedly stabbed during the attack.
- Juan Herrera, 34 – October 25, 2011 – Yorba Linda, California: Herrera was killed alongside his mother, Raquel Estrada. Prosecutors later alleged that Ocampo entered the residence and stabbed both victims numerous times.
- James Patrick McGillivray, 53 – December 20, 2011 – Placentia, California: McGillivray was a homeless man who was attacked near a shopping center. Surveillance cameras recorded images connected to the stabbing, providing investigators with important evidence about the killer’s appearance and movements.
- Lloyd “Jim” Middaugh, 42 – December 28, 2011 – Anaheim, California: Middaugh was found beneath or near a bridge along the Santa Ana River. He had been stabbed repeatedly in an area where homeless people were known to sleep and gather.
- Paulus Cornelius Smit, 57 – December 30, 2011 – Yorba Linda, California: Smit was found fatally stabbed near the Yorba Linda Public Library. His body was discovered outside the building near a stairway and parking area.
- John Berry, 64 – January 13, 2012 – Anaheim, California: Berry, a homeless Vietnam War veteran, was attacked near a fast-food restaurant. The stabbing occurred in front of witnesses, several of whom pursued and helped detain Ocampo until police arrived.
The Murder of James McGillivray
James McGillivray was killed on December 20, 2011, near a shopping center in Placentia. He was attacked while sleeping or resting outside. The killer stabbed him multiple times and escaped before police arrived.
A security camera captured portions of the attack or the suspect’s movements in the area. Investigators released images and a description in an attempt to identify the assailant. The recording showed a thin man dressed in dark clothing, but the quality of the footage initially made a positive identification difficult.
McGillivray’s death was first investigated as an individual homicide. When another homeless man was killed eight days later, detectives began considering whether a single attacker was deliberately targeting homeless people.
The Murder of Lloyd Middaugh
On December 28, 2011, Lloyd “Jim” Middaugh was found dead near the Santa Ana River in Anaheim. Middaugh lived outdoors and had reportedly stayed beneath a bridge in the area. He had been stabbed numerous times.
The secluded location gave the attacker an opportunity to approach without drawing immediate attention. Middaugh’s killing closely resembled the attack on McGillivray. Both victims were homeless men, both were killed at night and both suffered repeated knife wounds.
The similarities caused police agencies in Placentia and Anaheim to coordinate their investigations. Detectives began comparing evidence, witness reports and information about individuals seen near both crime scenes.
The Murder of Paulus Smit
Only two days after Middaugh’s death, Paulus Cornelius Smit was attacked near the Yorba Linda Public Library. His body was found on December 30, 2011, close to a stairwell and parking area outside the library.
Smit had been stabbed repeatedly in another sudden and violent assault. The short amount of time between his death and Middaugh’s killing greatly increased concern that Orange County was facing an active serial murderer.
Police warned homeless residents to remain in groups, avoid isolated sleeping areas and seek temporary shelter when possible. Officers and outreach workers distributed information throughout the region as investigators pursued hundreds of tips.
John Berry’s Warning
John Berry was a 64-year-old homeless Vietnam War veteran who had spoken publicly about the killings. He expressed anger about the attacks and criticized the unknown murderer. His comments appeared in news coverage as fear spread through Orange County’s homeless community.
Berry later became convinced that someone was following him. On January 12, 2012, he contacted Anaheim police and reported that he believed he was being stalked. Authorities were receiving hundreds of tips and reports related to the serial killings, and investigators did not reach Berry before the next attack occurred.
On the evening of January 13, Berry was near a Carl’s Jr. restaurant in Anaheim when Ocampo allegedly confronted him. Berry was stabbed in view of numerous people. Unlike the earlier attacks, this killing took place in a busy location with witnesses close enough to react immediately.
Capture of Ocampo
After stabbing Berry, Ocampo ran from the scene. Witnesses chased him through the surrounding area. Several people helped stop or restrain him until police officers arrived.
Officers arrested Ocampo near the crime scene and recovered a knife. Subsequent forensic testing connected the weapon to the attacks on the four homeless victims. Investigators also compared Ocampo’s appearance with surveillance images and descriptions gathered during the earlier cases.
The arrest brought an immediate end to the series of attacks. Ocampo was initially charged with murdering Berry, McGillivray, Middaugh and Smit. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office later added charges in the deaths of Raquel Estrada and Juan Herrera.
Evidence and Alleged Motive
Prosecutors alleged that Ocampo carefully selected, stalked and attacked his victims. Investigators said he carried a knife and wore dark clothing during the homeless murders. Evidence collected from his residence reportedly included writings, books, clothing, electronic devices and items used to sharpen knives.
Authorities argued that the four homeless men were not chosen entirely at random. Ocampo’s own father had experienced homelessness and was living in a vehicle or truck during the period surrounding the murders. Prosecutors claimed Ocampo viewed homeless people with hostility and had developed a desire to kill them.
Investigators also believed that Ocampo targeted John Berry after seeing or learning about Berry’s comments in the news. Prosecutors described Ocampo as stalking Berry before the final attack. Berry’s report to police that he was being followed supported the allegation that the killing had been planned rather than arising from a spontaneous confrontation.
The motive for the Estrada and Herrera killings was less clearly established in public reports. Ocampo knew the victims through their relative, and prosecutors alleged that he deliberately entered their Yorba Linda home and attacked them. The initial suspicion directed at Eder Herrera delayed the identification of Ocampo as the accused killer.
Murder Charges and Death-Penalty Case
Ocampo was charged with six counts of murder. Prosecutors also filed special-circumstance allegations involving multiple murders and lying in wait. These allegations made him eligible for the death penalty under California law.
In May 2012, the Orange County District Attorney announced that prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty. Ocampo pleaded not guilty. Because he died before trial, the evidence against him was never presented to a jury and he was never convicted of the murders.
Questions about his mental health became a major part of the pretrial proceedings. Defense attorneys and medical professionals examined whether he was mentally competent to stand trial. Reports described paranoia, delusional thinking and other serious psychological symptoms.
Death in Custody
Ocampo remained in the Orange County Jail while awaiting trial. On November 27, 2013, jail personnel found him seriously ill inside his cell. Investigators determined that he had swallowed a large quantity of powdered cleaning product that he had collected from packets available inside the jail.
He was transported to a hospital but died on November 28, 2013, at the age of 25. His death was ruled a suicide caused by acute intoxication from ingesting the cleaning substance.
Ocampo’s death ended the criminal prosecution. There was no trial, verdict or sentence, leaving the six cases legally unresolved through conviction even though prosecutors and investigators had publicly identified him as the person responsible.
Impact of the Crimes
The murders exposed the extreme vulnerability faced by people living without permanent shelter. McGillivray, Middaugh, Smit and Berry were attacked in places where they slept, rested or attempted to survive. Their living circumstances made them accessible to a predator and complicated efforts to protect them.
The case led police departments throughout Orange County to increase patrols and work more closely with homeless-service organizations. Shelters temporarily expanded their outreach, while volunteers urged people living outdoors to move into safer locations until the killer was captured.
The deaths of Raquel Estrada and Juan Herrera also demonstrated how an incorrect early suspicion can affect a grieving family. Estrada’s younger son lost his mother and brother and was initially treated as a possible suspect before evidence eventually shifted the investigation toward Ocampo.
Although Ocampo is widely described as an Orange County serial killer, the most precise legal description is an accused or suspected serial killer. He was formally charged with six murders and was facing a possible death-penalty trial, but his suicide prevented a jury from determining his guilt. The victims and the dates of their deaths remain central to the history of one of Orange County’s most disturbing modern murder investigations.
