UNITED STATES: POLICE NAME SUSPECT IN CALIFORNIA MASS MURDER AS VICTIMS ARE BURIED

Record ID: 1074690

  • Title: UNITED STATES: POLICE NAME SUSPECT IN CALIFORNIA MASS MURDER AS VICTIMS ARE BURIED
  • Date: 24th October 1970
  • Summary: 1. SV Hut where suspect war arrested 0.05 2. SV Wrecked car outside 0.08 3. CU Still photograph of suspect 0.29 4. LV & CU Church where funeral is being held (3 shots) 0.38 5. LV & CU Coffin carried out with a surviving daughter among mourners (2 shots) 1.03 6. SV Cortege moves off 1.14 Initials JMR/MR/ES.17.32 JMR/MR/ES.17
  • Embargoed: 7th November 1970 13:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, USA
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8SZBHOLEQ8CVQFULHER0FFIPK
  • Story Text:Californian police surrounded a mountain shack yesterday (23 October) and arrested a 24-year-old hippie who is charged with five murders at the mansion of a wealthy eye surgeon, Mr Victor Ohta. The announcement was made a few hours before the burial of the four Ohta family victims.

    The suspect, John Frazier, was picked up in the shack which is only half a mile from the scene of the crime, officially described as the most gruesome in the country's history. Mr Ohta, his wife, two sons and a secretary had been shot and then dumped in a swimming pool. Their home was then set on fire.

    Frazier was unarmed when arrested and offered no resistance. It is alleged that he resented the Uhta's wealth and said that "big things" would happen on Monday -- and, is alleged, on Monday he killed them.

    Members of local hippie communities co-operated with the police in the investigation and are said to have no connection with the arrested man.

    The Ohta family were buried at a Roman Catholic funeral service. Among the mourners were two daughters who were away at boarding school when the murders were committed.
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