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The cases of Itzcoatl Ocampo will be featured on the episode titled 2012: The So-Cal Killer, a segment of People Magazine Presents: Crimes Of The 2010s. The episode is set to air on August 21, 2024, on Investigation Discovery (ID), diving into the chilling murder spree of Itzcoatl Ocampo whose violent acts terrorized Southern California in late 2011 and 2012.
The third episode of the series will explore the background and the brutal nature of Ocampo's crimes against homeless individuals in the region, and his acquaintances, providing a detailed look at the investigation that led to his capture. The official synopsis of the episode reads:
“At the start of 2012, southern California has been under siege for two years by a serial killer targeting the homeless; however, when police accuse one man of the murder of his mother and brother, he discovers all the murders are connected.”
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Itzcoatl Misael Ocampo was a former U.S. Marine who gained notoriety as a suspected serial killer linked to the brutal murders of six individuals in Orange County, California, from 2011 to 2012. Born on March 20, 1988, in Mexico City, Ocampo was the eldest of three siblings in a family that migrated to the United States, eventually settling in Yorba Linda, California.
Everything you need to know about Itzcoatl Ocampo
Itzcoatl "Izzy" Ocampo was born in Mexico City on March 20, 1988, and moved to the United States with his family, settling in Yorba Linda, California. He attended Esperanza High School where he was known for his friendly demeanor, although he faced bullying due to his physical appearance.
Motivated by the September 11 attacks, Ocampo developed a strong interest in politics and started supporting the Republican Party. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving at Camp Pendleton and then deploying to Iraq in 2008.
Although he didn't engage in combat, his military service was marked by an incident where he was disciplined for misconduct. Returning home, Ocampo struggled with unemployment during the Great Recession and showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder which went untreated, despite the evident deterioration in his mental health.
His transformation from a Marine Corp to a figure at the center of chilling criminal investigations shows a dramatic and dark descent. Ocampo's life ended abruptly in 2013 under dramatic circumstances in custody which unfortunately prevented a trial that could have provided more insights into his troubled psyche and the motives behind his heinous acts.
The murder spree of Itzcoatl Ocampo
Starting in late 2011, Itzcoatl Ocampo went on a violent spree that resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four homeless men and two acquaintances. His first known fatal attacks were on his high school classmate's mother Raquel Estrada, and brother Juan Herrera.
This act was followed by the targeted killings of homeless men in Orange County, characterized by overkill stabbings. Ocampo utilized a large blade and stabbed his victims repeatedly, which led to public and media alarm.
Surveillance footage and witness descriptions eventually assisted law enforcement in linking these crimes to Ocampo which finally led to his arrest in January 2012 after a final attack outside a fast-food restaurant in Anaheim.
Itzcoatl Ocampo's arrest and death
After his arrest for a series of brutal murders, Itzcoatl Ocampo was charged with multiple counts of murder under special circumstances, including lying in wait and employing a deadly weapon.
He was detained at the Orange County jail, where signs of his deteriorating mental health became increasingly apparent. Despite the severity of the charges, Itzcoatl Ocampo’s trial never commenced.
In November 2013, the 25-year-old died in jail under controversial circumstances. Jailers thought that he was having a seizure as he was vomiting, shaking, and foaming at the mouth. But, Ocampo had died after ingesting cleaning chemicals that he had accumulated over time in his cell.
Michael Molfetta, an attorney who represented Ocampo, told The Times:
“Letting someone like Izzy Ocampo hoard what is essentially poison is, no matter how you couch it, it’s simply stupid. They needed to keep the poison away from him … If you talked to Izzy Ocampo for three seconds, it’s not hard to figure out this was a troubled person.”
The tragic end to his life provoked major discussions concerning the oversight of mentally ill inmates within the correctional system.
Episode 3 titled 2012: The So-Cal Killer from People Magazine Presents: Crimes Of The 2010s will premiere on August 21, 2024, at 8 PM EST, on Investigation Discovery (ID).
