- Raymond Lee Oyler
Raymond Lee Oyler is a 36-year-old
auto mechanic fromBeaumont, California , who was arrested byRiverside County Sheriff's Department officials onOctober 31 , 2006, for setting two wildfires in the summer of 2006. TheRiverside County Sheriff's Department announced in a live news conference on Thursday,November 2 ,2006 , that Oyler also was charged for his involvement with theEsperanza Fire , which killed five firefighters:Staff report (November 2, 2006). [http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=4720859 Authorities File Arson and Murder Charges in Deadly Southern California Wildfire] .KABC-TV ] Jason McKay, 27; Jess McLean, 27; Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20; Mark Loutzenhiser, 43; and Pablo Cerda, 23.He has appeared at a Riverside County court on March 19, 2007, for a preliminary hearing on the 5 charges of first degree murder, and 21 counts of arson or use of an incendiary device.
On
November 11 , 2006 it was announced that Oyler is a suspect in the2003 Old Fire .Staff report (November 11, 2006). [http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=4752840 Oyler Investigated as Possible Arson Suspect in 2003 'Old' Fire.]KABC-TV ]On March 16, 2007 authorities announced that Oyler has been charged with an additional 19 counts of arson and using an incendiary device, for a total of 23 counts of arson in addition to the deadly Esperanza fire.
On May 9, 2007, Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said that he planned to seek the death penalty against Oyler.Reston, Maeve (May 10, 2007). Execution sought for arson suspect. "
Los Angeles Times "]References
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