Robert Douglas Fischer

UPDATE, MAY 18, 9:06 A.M.: Phoenix New Times, the big sistah paper of OC Weekly, includes coverage today of the Maricopa County case against San Clemente's Robert Douglas Fischer, who is accused of second-degree murder for allegedly staging what he called in as the "suicide" of Norman "Lee" Radder.

Valley Fever blogger Matthew Hendley includes sheriff's and coroner's evidence that will make the case tougher for the retired cop-turned-family law attorney.
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The good news for those clinging to truth, justice and the American way (brought to you by Mennen) is Robert Luis Reil was sentenced Friday to 50 years to life in state prison for his participation in the first Orange County murder of 2010.

The bad news for those residing in the correctional facility that will receive the 33-year-old Orange street gang member is his penchant for stirring shit up while behind bars.
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A judge today sentenced Jorge Alejandro Lopez, 35, a semi-transient resident of Santa Ana, to 16 years to life in state prison for murdering a man at a homeless encampment by beating him with his fists, stomping on his head and slamming a 16-pound concrete boulder on his chest.

Marco Rojo Nieto, 36, who died at the scene of the July 17, 2010, murder, left behind a wife and teenage daughter.
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Two days into her jury trial, a 20-year-old Fullerton mother pleaded guilty today to repeatedly stabbing her newborn girl to death and hiding the corpse in the closet of her family's home in April 2010. Yoselin Torres Tovar is scheduled to be sentenced to 16 years to life in state prison at a June 1 Santa Ana hearing. She copped to one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement allegation for the use of a deadly weapon.
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Sarith Yin

When 16-year-old Juan Carlos Rodriguez was murdered outside a Tustin house party in January 2010, police employed something of a "round-up-the-usual-suspects" strategy, hauling off eight or so young men and women for the murder. The list was later cut to six suspects. A statement from prosecutors on the first sentence being imposed in the case today mentions three defendants.

Going to prison first--for life, without the possibility of parole, plus another 30 years--is Sarith Yin, 25, Santa Ana.
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Courtesy Orange County Sheriffs Department

McAmis's booking photo

At what was expected to be a preliminary hearing, the accused murderer of Fullerton College student Lynsie Ekelund pleaded guilty today. Christopher Michael McAmis, 32, will serve a sentence of 15 years to life for murdering 20-year-old Ekelund in 2001 at his Whittier apartment.More >>

A 44-year-old who beat and strangled his former girlfriend after she asked for money to care for their 8-year-old daughter was convicted last week.

Arturo Tapia Salazar pleaded guilty Thursday to second degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison.
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Courtesy of Orange County District Attorney's Office

​You'll have to wait until Friday morning for the Ugly Police Mugshot of the Week, but check out these two first-runner ups. The babe on the left is Corina Jo Castillo, who was sentenced this week to six years in state prison for fatally stabbing her boyfriend--answering the question, "Does that have a boyfriend?" Over on the right is Lynn Eichenberger, who is accused of participating in a real estate scam that stung Vietnamese-Americans out of $2 million.
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Jeffrey Lee Chung

​Police have made arrests in October 2010's murder of Jeffrey Lee Chung, an Irvine 23-year-old who was shot to death outside a bar in the Artists Village area of Santa Ana that civic leaders have tried for years to turn into a safe and popular mecca for nightlife.

Two teenagers who were 14 and 15 at the time of the slaying--and still are not being identified because they remain minors--were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of murder and armed robbery, according to Santa Ana Police.
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Christopher Ryan Smith

​Orange County authorities say items found during the search for the body of Christopher Ryan Smith in southern San Diego County over the weekend may be evidence tied to the Laguna Beach 31-year-old's murder in 2010.

Edward Younghoon Shin, Smith's 32-year-old business partner, allegedly confessed to the slaying but reportedly has not indicated where he put the body.
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