On this day, one year ago (August 17, 2022)… A prosecutor presented his case to jurors, arguing that a man accused of committing two cold-case murders of women in the 1980s, including one in Burbank, is a sexually motivated serial killer who should be convicted of first-degree murder. In response, the defendant’s attorney claimed that the prosecution had failed to prove their case and called for his client’s acquittal.
The trial, which lasted nearly a month, concluded with the downtown Los Angeles jury receiving the case against Horace Van Vaultz Jr. By mid-afternoon on Wednesday. Throughout the trial, the 67-year-old defendant maintained his innocence in the killings of Selena Keough and Mary Duggan.
The charges against Vaultz include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a rape, as well as murder during the commission of a sodomy involving Keough. If convicted, Vaultz could face a potential life prison sentence.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman argued to the jurors that the killings were “sexually motivated homicides,” committed by the same serial killer between 1981 and 1986. She urged the jurors to find Vaultz guilty of both killings.
Silverman highlighted the lack of explanation from Vaultz regarding the evidence linking him to the murders, including DNA evidence found on or in the bodies of the victims. The prosecutor claimed that there was overwhelming evidence pointing only to the defendant.
Regarding Vaultz’s previous acquittal in the case of Janna Rowe’s killing in 1986, the deputy district attorney pointed out that DNA testing was not available at that time. However, she argued that the jury could use it as “pattern evidence.”
On the other hand, Vaultz’s attorney, Damon Lamont Hobdy, contended that the prosecution had failed to prove their case. He urged the jurors to acquit Vaultz of both killings, stating that the evidence showed his client’s innocence. Hobdy acknowledged that Vaultz had flaws in his character, such as infidelity, but argued that it did not make him a serial killer.
During his testimony, Vaultz claimed he had no recollection of Keough, Duggan, or being responsible for their deaths. He admitted to knowing Rowe but denied any involvement in her killing. Vaultz emphasized that his DNA only indicated potential sexual contact and did not prove his guilt.
Vaultz, who was residing in Bakersfield at the time of his arrest, was apprehended by Burbank police during a traffic stop in Inglewood in November 2019, in connection with the murders of Keough and Duggan. He has been held in custody without bail since then.
This case marked the first criminal prosecution in Los Angeles County that utilized investigative genetic genealogy. This technique involves accessing commercial DNA databases, matching DNA from the crime scene to a relative, and obtaining the suspect’s DNA. Then-Burbank Police Department Chief Scott LaChasse credited modern technology for helping identify Vaultz as the suspect.
Vaultz expressed his frustration over his time spent in the L.A. County jail, stating that he has been incarcerated for the past two years and nine months.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
