The murder trial of the man accused of killing eight people in Seal Beach in 2011 has been rescheduled.
The jury trial for Scott Evans Dekraai was scheduled to be held in Novermber of this year, just a month after the third anniversary of the crime.
The court has now changed the trial start date to March 24, 2014, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.
It is common for trial dates to change in murder cases.
Dekraai has been charged with eight counts of murder with special circumstances, and one count of attempted murder for the October 2011 shootings at the Salon Meritage beauty salon in Seal Beach.
The case currently stands as the worst mass murder in the history of Orange County.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty. Dekraai has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied the “enhancements” that could aggravate the circumstances of his case.
His trial may be held in two phases: in phase one, a jury will decide if he is innocent or guilty. If he is convicted, phase two—also known as the penalty phase—will begin as a jury decides whether Dekraai lives or dies.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, September 2
Brandish Weapon—1:14 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported seeing a man walking down the street holding what the caller thought might be a gun. However, police unit 206 determined that the man was carrying a mug of coffee.
Transient—3:48 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported seeing a man with a knife sheath on his belt walk into an enclosed area for a trash bin. The caller apparently described the man as a transient. Police unit 106 found beer bottles behind the trash bin, possibly indicating a transient hiding place.
Wednesday, September 4
Burglary Report—7:04 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Police unit 206 took a report on the theft of a pink girls bicycle on Aug. 21. Report taken.
Thursday, September 5
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—9:46 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a car was parked in front of a residence. The driver of the car reportedly looked into an open garage. The caller spoke with the driver, who said he was looking for squatters. The man then drove off. Police unit 106 pulled the car over just before St. Cloud Drive. It turned out the man in the car had a work order to secure the property.
Vandalism Report—6:33 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller reported a broken church tile at the playground.
Friday, September 6
Baby Locked in Vehicle—8:24 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a baby was locked in a vehicle. The child was not in distress. A tow truck and the Orange County Fire Authority were en route. The call was cancelled before the police unit arrived. The citizen called back to say they were able to get the child out.
Counseling—10:34 a.m.—Corsair Way—A citizen requested counseling about a trash bag that was placed in her trash bin. She thought this was suspicious. Counselled.
Fraud—Noon—Catalina Avenue—Someone used a citizen’s information to take out a payday loan for $1,730. A collection agency was now seeking repayment.
Automobile Tampering—2:52 p.m.—Edinger Avenue—Someone stole the carburetor out of the caller’s boat in the storage yard. Grand theft report taken. The log did not specify the value of the item taken, but grand theft refers to the theft of property worth $950 or more.
Saturday, September 7
Coyote Sighting—8:50 a.m.—Wisteria and Hazlenut—The caller reported seeing the coyote 10 minutes earlier. The caller believed the coyote may have gotten someone’s pet, as there were bloody paw prints in the area. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Animal Information—1:23 p.m.—Candleberry and Fuschia—The caller saw a coyote running around the and was concerned about children there. The caller saw the coyote jump a fence into someone’s yard. At 1:24 p.m., another caller reported seeing the coyote go by on Marigold. Long Beach Animal Care Services had an extended estimated time of arrival. California Fish and Game declined to respond unless the coyote was being aggressive. The second caller apparently saw the coyote going up to every residence. The caller eventually lost sight of the coyote.
Sunday, September 8
Transient—9:30 a.m.—Electric Avenue and Main Street—The caller said an individual who the caller apparently described as a transient appeared to be setting up camp. He was also playing loud music. It turned out that police unit 141 contacted the man earlier. He had been displaced by the Long Beach clean up and would be leaving Seal Beach by the end of the day. Assisted.
Dog in Vehicle—10:44 a.m.—Main Street and Electric Avenue—The caller said a small, gray terrier had been barking inside a car and was now curled up in a ball. The caller said she could not tell if the dog was breathing, but it did not move when she knocked on the window. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services. At 10:53 a.m., police contacted the registered owner of the car. It was determined that no further police services were necessary. The dog owner was admonished.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Tuesday, September 3
Petty Theft—5:22 p.m.—St. Andrews Drive, Mutual Unknown—Jewelry was reportedly taken from a residence the previous week. No report desired.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, September 2
Disturbance—11:40 a.m.—Wallingsford Road—The caller said a neighbor argued with her about the use of laundry machines.
Tuesday, September 3
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:11 p.m.—Weatherby Road and Orangewood Avenue—The caller said that a vehicle the caller had reported on Feb. 17, 2012 just came back.
Stolen Vehicle—6:03 a.m.—Kensington Road—The caller’s car was stolen out of the driveway. The keys were in the car.
Citizen Assist—11:43 a.m.—Kensington Road—A citizen called about a scam.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:04 p.m.—Tucker Lane and Foster Road—A deputy performed a patrol check for a vehicle with a camper shell that was occupied by two men and had been parked at the location for 5 or 10 minutes.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:18 p.m.—Woodstock Road and Montecito Road—The caller said a mini truck parked on the corner was occupied by two men who were unknown to the area.
Wednesday, September 4
Disturbance—12:27 a.m.—Quail Run Road.
Disturbance—10:20 a.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Disturbance—2:29 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Wallingsford Road—The caller said a man and a woman had an argument in the middle of the intersection. The woman was upset and the man told a witness that he wanted the woman out of his truck.
Fraud Report—3:18 p.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive—The caller complained that a contractor had not completed the work. The caller was told that is a civil issue, but Legal Aid advised the caller to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department about possible fraud.
Found Property—6:33 p.m.—Quail Run Road—The caller found a suitcase containing clothing on the caller’s property.
Illegal Parked Vehicle—8:21 p.m.—Tigertail Drive—The caller said two cars had been parked in front of the location for three days without moving.
Thursday, September 5
Disturbance—12:20 a.m.—Montecito Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—12:45 p.m.—Shakespeare Drive.
Friday, September 6
911 Hang-up—9:58 a.m.—Tigertail Drive.
Open Door—10:11 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Saturday, September 7
Disturbance—7:22 a.m.—Kempton Drive.
Petty Theft Report—10:06 a.m.—Loch Lomond Road.
Vandalism Report—1:24 p.m.—Baskerville Road.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—5:47 p.m.—Wendy Way.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—6:52 p.m.—St. Cloud Drive and Yellowtail Drive.
Disturbance, Music or Party—9:44 p.m.—Tigertail Drive and Foster Road.
Sunday, September 8
Disturbance—6:16 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:46 p.m.—Tucker Lane.
