Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

KPCC Archive

Autopsy report in suspected serial killer Ocampo's death inconclusive

This photo provided by the Anaheim Police Department shows Itzcoatl Ocampo. Investigators are "extremely confident" that Ocampo is responsible for all four recent killings of homeless men in Orange County.
This photo provided by the Anaheim Police Department shows Itzcoatl Ocampo. Investigators are "extremely confident" that Ocampo was responsible for all four recent killings of homeless men in Orange County.
(
Anaheim Police/AP
)

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

The autopsy report on a suspected Orange County serial killer has come back inconclusive as to the cause of his death. 

Itzcoatl Ocampo, 25, was found shaking and vomiting in his cell Wednesday and was taken to the hospital by Orange County paramedics, where he was pronounced dead.

Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock told KPCC the investigation will go to the toxicology lab, where tests could take eight to 12 weeks .

Ocampo's lawyer has said he was told his client had ingested cleaning product, the Associated Press reports, but sheriff's officials couldn't confirm that. 

Support for LAist comes from

"I can tell you that typically we do provide cleaning products to inmates upon their request in small quantity," Hallock told KPCC, "but that's as a way of providing them the ability to keep their housing area clean. But in terms of commenting specifically on Ocampo or his cell, I can't comment because it's an ongoing investigation. "

A former marine and veteran of the Iraq War, Ocampo was scheduled to return to court in January 2014 . He was charged in the murder of six people, including four homeless men who were brutally stabbed near the Santa Ana River trail. 

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist