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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

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Alleged serial killer Itzcoatl Ocampo dies while awaiting trial

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Former Marine and Iraq War veteran Itzcoatl Ocampo, who allegedly stabbed four Orange County homeless men to death, died Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff's Department tells KPCC. He was 25 years old.

Ocampo was found sick in his cell Wednesday evening before being transported to a Santa Ana hospital according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lt. Jeff Hallock, NBC4 reports. He died Thursday afternoon.

The cause of death has not been determined, according to NBC4.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office was seeking the death penalty against Ocampo, who was being held without bail. He allegedly murdered four homeless men, as well as stabbing a mother and son to death

His next pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 17, the Orange County Register reports, with lawyers saying earlier this month that a late 2014 trial date was likely.

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