A preliminary hearing in the fatal 2014 shooting of 96-year-old Rossmoor resident is among Rossmoor or Los Alamitos felony cases currently in court. Prosecutors have accused the victim’s daughter of the crime.
A preliminary hearing determines if there is enough evidence for a case to go to trial.
Cases are listed according to their next scheduled court date.
Fatal shooting of Elderly Rossmoor woman
On Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 11272 Wallingsford Road, Rossmoor, following reports of a shooting at the residence. Deputies arrived with Orange County Fire Authority paramedics and discovered Gretchen DeStefano, 96, Rossmoor, deceased, suffering from a gunshot wound. Christine Reynolds, 71, Rossmoor, the daughter of the victim, was detained at the scene.
The latest: The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue April 14.
Los Alamitos JFTB killing
A Costa Mesa man was killed at the theater at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Friday, May 21, 2010. Some of his remains were found on the base and some of his remains were found in El Dorado Park in Long Beach. His killer apparently then went to the victim’s Costa Mesa home and lured a woman the dead man knew to the apartment. There, someone killed the woman and staged the crime to look like a sexual assault.
For a brief time, Costa Mesa Police considered the first victim a suspect in the second killing. It wasn’t until the following week that they learned their killing suspect was in fact a killing victim. The DA’s Office has charged Daniel Patrick Wozniak with the crime.
The charges include “special circumstances” that make Wozniak eligible for the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Wozniak remains in custody.The jury trial began last year.
The latest: A hearing in this case was scheduled for Friday, April 3.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Thursday, March 19
Vehicle Burglary—9:17 a.m.—Marina Drive—The crime occurred between 10:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, and the time of the call to police. Loss: cameras, lenses and other equipment. Report taken.
Dead Animal—7:04 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported a dead sea lion at the waterline.
Referred.
Message left on Public Works Department’s voicemail.
Friday, March 20
Animal Information—6:53 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a large dog that was possibly a pit bull was running loose on the beach.
According to the caller, this was an on-going problem.
Animal Information—8:22 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—A caller reported a baby seal (more likely a sea lion) on the beach on the north side of the Seal Beach Pier.
Lifeguards were already aware of the situationa and told police they would handle the matter.
Saturday, March 21
Bees—12:07 p.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller reported a bee hive. Police unit 107 found the hive at the green water meter box, adjacent to the cinderblock wall, at ground level. The officer marked the area with police tape. Referred.
Sunday, March 22
Animal Welfare Check—9:01 a.m.—First Street—The caller reported a baby seal near the jetty. Its eyes were closed and it wasn’t moving. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Possible Transient—5:34 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said an individual who the caller apparently described as a transient was playing a guitar. An officer interviewed the individual in the field.
Monday, March 23
Opossum—7:25 a.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said a mother opossum had been hit (presumably by a car, though the log did not say so) and was injured. The caller said there were baby opossums around. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Found Property—4:48 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller found an identification card in the sand.
Wednesday, March 25
Vehicle Burglary—3:49 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The crime apparently took place within the hour prior to the call to the police. Point of entry: a smashed window. Loss: the caller’s purse and its contents. Report taken.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Saturday, March 7
Animal Noise—12:29 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported the neighbors were having a yard sale and their dog was continuously barking. The caller said the neighbors refused to keep it quiet. The caller wanted the police to make contact with them. Patrol spoke with the daughter of the dog owner, and recommended a bark collar due to the fact that the caller is complaining the dog barks off and on during the day, and that it is disturbing his peace.
Monday, March 9
Suspicious Circumstances—12:30 p.m.—Marna Avenue—The caller’s wife had a locksmith there doing work at their residence. She asked to pay with a credit card, and the locksmith said his machine didn’t work. The man then wanted her to take him to the bank to get cash out. The caller thought it was suspicious, and that the man had other motives. The man was gone upon patrol’s arrival. Assisted.
Tuesday, March 10
Disturbance, Family—6:54 p.m.—Katella Avenue—An individual was argumentative over a child visitation, and was now leaving in a red Jeep Wrangler with his two children. The reporting party is a court ordered monitor. Report taken.
Thursday, March 12
Assist Outside Agency—3:03 p.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller was a woman who said she needed a paramedic because she was not feeling well. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. The caller was 22 years old and said she has been breathing in “weird fumes.” According to the dispatcher, she sounded as though she was under the influence. The woman was transported to University of California Irvine Medical Center. Assisted.
Disturbance—3:54 p.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller said a woman was brought there by ambulance and was demanding to see a patient in the emergency room, claiming to be a family member of the patient. However, she was not a family member. The woman in question was transported to an area of UCI. Assisted.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, March 23
Disturbance—8:11 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Wednesday, March 25
Burglary Report—1:06 a.m.—Orangewood Avenue.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:10 a.m.—Druid Lane.
Petty Theft Report—2:53 p.m.—Orangewood Avenue.
Burglary Report—3:07 p.m.—Bradbury Road.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—3:48 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive and Foster Road.
Thursday, March 26
Burglary Report—6:13 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Burglary Report— 7:38 a.m.—Copa De Oro Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Petty Theft Report—8:04 a.m.—Wembley Road.
Burglary Report—8:26 a.m.—Blume Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Welfare Check—8:50 a.m.—Mainway Drive.
Vandalism Report—11:07 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.
Patrol Check—12:06 p.m.—Hedwig Road—A deputy performed a patrol check in the park for any criminal activity.
None noted.
Friday, March 27
Burglary Report—8:37 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—An unlocked vehicle was ransacked.
Open Window—7:18 p.m.—Oak Knoll Drive and Weatherby Road.
Saturday, March 28
Disturbance, Music or Party—3:07 p.m.—Brimhall Drive.
Disturbance, Music or Party—3:54 p.m.—Brimhall Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:51 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive.
Disturbance—11:55 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Sunday, March 29
Disturbance, Music or Party—2:06 a.m.—Drysdale Lane and Pemberton Road.
Vandalism Report—1 p.m.—Kempton Drive.
Keep the Peace—1:42 p.m.—Hedwig Road.
Disturbance, Family Dispute—3:53 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
