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Articles Tagged With ‘murder trials’




Santa Maria teen who killed her baby sentenced to group home

Written on 13 Jan, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

A Santa Maria teen convicted of killing her newborn will go to a group home, rather than spending time at a state juvenile facility. [KCOY] Last January, the teen, who is referred to in court as Maribel S., gave birth... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay murder defendant declared mentally incompetent

Written on 7 Jan, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

A 22-year-old man who allegedly murdered his father at their Morro Bay home has been declared incompetent to stand trial. William Joel Schonberger is accused of killing his 59-year-old father with a machete. [KSBY] During Schonberger’s initial arraignment hearing last... (Continue reading)

Man convicted of Hollywood murder of woman from Morro Bay

Written on 15 Dec, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 2 comments

A Los Angels jury convicted a marijuana dispensary security guard and small business owner for the murder of Carrie Jean Melvin, 30, who grew up in Morro Bay. Ezeoma Obioha, 32, is now facing the possibility of receiving life in... (Continue reading)

Men accused of murdering Marilyn Pharis to appear in court

Written on 12 Dec, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

The two men accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Santa Maria woman Marilyn Pharis, 64, are due to appear in court this week for preliminary hearings. [KSBY] Last week, Santa Barbara County prosecutors announced they would not pursue the death... (Continue reading)

Man on trial for Hollywood murder of woman from Morro Bay

Written on 6 Dec, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 2 comments

A marijuana dispensary security guard is standing trial for the murder of Carrie Jean Melvin, 30, who grew up in Morro Bay. Melvin was shot and killed in Hollywood by a gunman who walked up behind her, fired one round... (Continue reading)

Lypps acquitted of killing his wife in formerly cold Morro Bay case

Written on 15 Nov, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

Following a cold case DNA discovery and twists and turns in court, a Morro Bay murder case ended Monday without a conviction. A San Luis Obispo County jury found Nipomo man James Lypps not guilty of murdering his wife at... (Continue reading)

Trial begins in formerly cold Morro Bay murder case

Written on 18 Oct, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

Trial has finally begun in the murder case involving a Nipomo man accused of having murdered his wife at the couple’s then-Morro Bay home in 2009. The prosecution says James Lypps, 66, strangled and then drowned his wife, while the... (Continue reading)

Teen on trial for killing her baby claims pregnancy denial

Written on 6 Oct, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

A 15-year-old Santa Maria girl did not murder her newborn baby; rather the infant died as a result of  the teen’s pregnancy denial, a defense attorney is arguing. [KSBY] The teen’s murder trial began this week in Santa Maria juvenile... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles clairvoyant dies in sheriff’s department custody

Written on 19 Jul, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

A 62-year-old Paso Robles woman and self-proclaimed clairvoyant, who was due to stand trial for the murder of a 34-year-old man, died while in custody on Saturday. Nicole Honait Luxor died of bladder cancer, which metastasized to her liver. In... (Continue reading)

Solvang woman acquitted of murdering her daughter

Written on 22 Mar, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

Less than a month after declaring a mistrial, a Santa Maria judge reversed his ruling, freeing a 90-year-old Solvang woman who was accused of murdering her terminally ill daughter. In 2013, Solvang resident Heidi Good died at the age of... (Continue reading)