Rockefeller impostor deceived and murdered, prosecutors claim

For years, German-born Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter had convinced his people, his wife included, that he was Clark Rockefeller, a member of the billionaire family and New England high society.

He had convinced others he was Christopher Crowe, an East Coast bond salesman.

In a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, he faced prosecutors’ allegations about his actions as Chris Chichester, a young man who lived in San Marino in the 1980s, claiming to be a film student and descendant of British royalty.

PHOTOS: Clark Rockefeller investigation

Gerhartsreiter, 52, is charged in the 1985 death of John Sohus, whom authorities have linked to a skeleton found buried in a San Marino backyard. Sohus and his wife, Linda, lived in the house with Sohus’s mother. Gerhartsreiter, whom they knew as Chichester, lived in the guesthouse, authorities said.

Prosecutors began their opening statements in Gerhartsreiter’s trial Monday morning, showing jurors photos of the skeleton and the yard in which it was found in 1994 by construction workers digging a pool.

John and Linda Sohus, “without explanation, without any apparent reason, in early February of 1985, just vanished… and left their family and friends behind,” Deputy District Atty. Habib Balian told the jurors.

FULL COVERAGE: Rockefeller imposter on trial

Shortly after the Sohuses' disappearance, Chichester also disappeared from San Marino, telling people he had to leave to take care of family business, Balian said.

Gerhartsreiter, wearing a blue suit jacket, smiled as he was escorted into the courtroom. He looked at the projected photographs of the Sohuses shown to jurors and took notes. He did not look at the jurors.

After the couple disappeared, John Sohus’ mother, Ruth “Didi” Sohus, was devastated, Balian said. She “had believed her son had abandoned her at the end of her life, had taken off,” he said.

But her quiet, smart son who adored science fiction and fantasy “was buried in his own backyard,” Balian said.

The person whose skull was found in the backyard “suffered large blows to the head with a hard, blunt object,” Balian said.

Gerhartsreiter, using the Rockefeller name, was arrested in 2008 on suspicion of kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter. He was convicted in Massachusetts in that case and extradited to California while serving a four- to five-year prison term. He was charged in 2011 in connection with John Sohus' death.

During his preliminary hearing last year, Gerhartsreiter's defense attorneys asked a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge if they could continue to call him Clark Rockefeller since that was the name the attorneys knew him by. The judge denied the request.

Although Linda Sohus was never located, authorities have said they presume her to be dead.

Gerhartsreiter is in custody in Los Angeles in lieu of $10 million bail.

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Photo: Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter sits with attorney Bradford Bailey, left, as prosecutors began their opening statements in Gerhartsreiter’s murder trial Monday in Los Angeles. Photo lower right is family photo of the Sohuses. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times; Handout

Rockefeller impostor accused of killing man in 1985 goes on trial

Jose Perez, working for his father's swimming pool business, was digging into the backyard of a San Marino home in 1994 when he made a grisly discovery: human bones wrapped in plastic and buried several feet underground. 

Nearly two decades after that discovery, German-born Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter is scheduled to stand trial for the death of John Sohus, whom authorities linked to the remains. The opening statements in Gerhartsreiter's trial are expected to begin Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Sohus and his wife, Linda, disappeared in 1985, leaving behind John's mother, with whom the couple had been living in San Marino. It was the family's former home where the remains were found in 1994.

PHOTOS: Clark Rockefeller investigation

Authorities say Gerhartsreiter, 52, is a con man with several aliases who, for years, posed as a man named Clark Rockefeller, a member of the billionaire family and New England high society.

In the 1980s, authorities say, Gerhartsreiter — using the name Christopher Chichester— lived in the Sohus' guest house. Shortly after the Sohuses disappeared, so, too, did Chicester.

Gerhartsreiter, using the Rockefeller name, was arrested in 2008 for kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter. He was convicted in Massachusetts in that case and extradited to California while serving a four- to five-year prison term. He was charged in 2011 in connection with John Sohus' death.

FULL COVERAGE: Rockefeller imposter on trial

During his preliminary hearing last year, Gerhartsreiter's defense attorneys asked a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge if they could continue to call him Clark Rockefeller since that was the name the attorneys knew him by. The judge denied the request.

Although Linda Sohus was never located, authorities have said they presume her to be dead.

Gerhartsreiter is in custody in Los Angeles in lieu of $10 million bail.

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Photo: The Sohuses in family photo.

Police searching for gunman in fatal Panorama City shooting

A 35-year-old man was shot and killed Saturday night in Panorama City, and police are asking the public's help in finding the gunman, according to Los Angeles police.

Several people called police about 10:35 p.m. to report gunfire in the 14700 block of Parthenia Street, just east of Cedros Avenue. Police officers found the victim on the sidewalk "bleeding badly," said Capt. Todd Chamberlain, commanding officer of LAPD's Mission Area police station.

The victim was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he later died, Chamberlain said. The man, whose name was not immediately released, lived nearby and had no documented gang affiliation.

Homicide detectives have interviewed several people in the neighborhood, but so far they have not been able to identify the suspect or suspects, nor have they determined a motive for the shooting, Chamberlain said.

"We're asking the public's help in solving this murder," he said. "Detectives suspect the 911 callers might have seen more than they reported and would like them to come forward with any information."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Det. Efren Gutierrez at (818) 838-9948. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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Woman dies in Montebello shooting

A woman was shot and killed in Montebello on Saturday, apparently by her husband, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators.

Arthur Andrade, 29, of Tustin is suspected of shooting Sonia Esperanza, 24, of East Los Angeles while she sat in her car in the 100 block of Washington Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. 

The couple were in the process of getting a divorce, according to investigators.

Andrade fled the scene in a dark-colored vehicle, sheriff's deputies said. Anyone with information about Andrade is urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

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Fox executive homicide investigation progressing 'vigorously'

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Fox executive homicide investigation progressing 'vigorously'

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said it's likely to take some time before they close the homicide probe of Fox executive Gavin Smith.

Officials declared Smith's disappearance a homicide case earlier this week. But they said it's unclear when detectives will present evidence to prosecutors for possible charges.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said additional evidence still needs to be examined. More than two dozen search warrants have been served in connection with the case, he added.

"So there is still evidence that needs [to be] processed and analyzed," he said. "They are not putting a time frame on that, but it's moving forward vigorously."

Their person of interest remains behind bars on an unrelated drug conviction. John Creech — whose wife, authorities said, had a relationship with Smith after meeting him in rehab — is serving an eight-year sentence.

Even if Creech were to be released early for "good-time, work-time" credit, Whitmore said Friday, he would still spend four years in jail — a place "where he can be interviewed at any time."

"He's a captive audience," Whitmore said.

Creech has not spoken to investigators while in jail, sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson said, but his wife has talked to detectives on multiple occasions. Dolson declined to elaborate on what Chandrika Creech said or what the nature of her relationship with Smith was.

Smith, a former UCLA basketball player who worked in Fox's movie distribution department, was last seen leaving a friend's home in Ventura County's Oak Park neighborhood the night of May 1. Wearing purple athletic pants belonging to one of his sons, Smith drove away in his Mercedes, leaving behind his cellphone charger, shaving kit and other items.

In the months after Smith was last seen, officials insisted the case remained a missing person investigation, even as Creech's home and vehicle were searched. But Thursday, they announced they believed Smith had been killed, though no body has been found.

Officials also revealed that Smith's Mercedes Benz, missing since his disappearance, was found last month in a Simi Valley storage locker linked to Creech.

Gavin Smith investigation 'moving forward vigorously,' official says

Detectives have analyzed a "significant amount of evidence" in their investigation into Fox executive Gavin Smith's disappearance, and the case is "moving forward vigorously," a sheriff's official said.

But investigators don't necessarily feel pressed for time, as their person of interest remains behind bars on an unrelated drug conviction. John Creech — whose wife, authorities said, had a "relationship" with Smith after meeting him in rehab — is serving an eight-year sentence at Men's Central Jail.

Even if Creech were to be released early for "good-time, work-time" credit, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Friday, he would still spend four years in jail — a place "where he can be interviewed at any time."

"He's a captive audience," Whitmore said.

Creech has not spoken to investigators while in jail, sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson said, but his wife has talked to detectives on multiple occasions. Dolson declined to elaborate on what Chandrika Creech said or the nature of her relationship with Smith.

Although investigators have already looked at a "significant amount of evidence," Whitmore said, additional evidence still needs to be examined. More than two dozen search warrants have been served in connection with the case, he added.

"So there is still evidence that needs processed and analyzed," he said. "They are not putting a time frame on that, but it's moving forward vigorously."

Ventura police officers struck by vehicle, fatally shoot suspect

A man was shot and killed Thursday night after he hit two Ventura police officers with his truck in an attempt to flee, authorities said.

Although the officers were seriously hurt in the incident, their injuries were not life-threatening, according to Ventura Assistant Police Chief David Wilson.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Harbor Boulevard and Monmouth Way, Wilson said. The two officers had gone to the motel about 7 p.m. after someone called police about a man who was "disturbing the peace," he said. The man was a guest at the motel.

A short time later, the officers were escorting the man out of the motel when he ran off, got into a truck and attempted to escape, Wilson said. At that point, officers fired several gunshots at the vehicle coming toward them, he said. One officer was struck and another was run over, he said.

Police units arriving at the scene found the two injured officers on the ground. They also found the man dead inside the truck, Wilson said.

Police are not releasing any details about the two officers. The name of the suspect has not been released.

No other injuries were reported.

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Motive still a mystery in slaying of movie executive Gavin Smith

After months of speculation, Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators confirmed Thursday they believed missing Fox movie executive Gavin Smith was murdered and publicly named a convicted drug dealer a person of interest in the case.

The revelation came as investigators announced that the 57-year-old’s Mercedes-Benz, missing since his May disappearance, was found last month in a Simi Valley storage locker. Authorities said the  locker was linked to James Creech, currently serving an eight-year sentence for an unrelated drug conviction.

“The condition of the vehicle in conjunction with cooperating witness statements indicates he was killed,” Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Dolson said. “At this time the evidence leads us to believe he was murdered.”

Investigators have “a good idea” of a motive, Dolson said, “but we're not going to discuss it.”

The relationship between Smith and Creech was unclear; Creech told a Times reporter at his sentencing last year that he had never met Smith.

But Dolson said “there was a relationship” between Smith and Creech’s wife, who “met in rehab.” When asked whether that relationship was romantic in nature, Dolson declined to comment.

“They knew each other,” he said.

Chandrika Creech has spoken to investigations on many occasions, Dolson said, He declined to say what information she provided.

In the months after Smith was last seen, officials insisted the case remained a missing persons investigation, even as Creech’s home and vehicle were searched.

Smith, a former UCLA basketball player who worked in Fox's movie distribution department, left a friend's home in Ventura County's Oak Park neighborhood the night of May 1. Wearing purple athletic pants belonging to one of his sons, Smith drove away in his Mercedes, leaving behind his cellphone charger, shaving kit and other items.

Numerous searches of the area were conducted after Smith disappeared and his family posted a $20,000 reward.

Dolson said investigators received a tip leading them to the storage facility where Smith’s car was recovered. The locker wasn’t registered to Creech, Dolson said, but to someone close to him.

John Creech has not spoken to detectives while at Men's Central Jail for the drug conviction, Dolson said. Creech was picked up by Glendale police in a February 2010 drug bust, when he sold bricks of cocaine to a man whose car contained more than 2,500 oxycodone tablets. Subsequent searches of Creech’s home and business yielded drugs, cash and other items.

Creech later admitted to police that he was a middle-man between drug producers and lower-level street dealers, and pleaded no contest last year to one count of selling and transporting cocaine.

In January, his Hummer was found at a marijuana grow house in Granada Hills. Authorities searched the vehicle in connection with the Smith case, one of more than two dozen search warrants served in the investigation. Creech’s West Hills home was also searched at least twice.

Dolson said officials do not think that Smith was involved in any drug transactions.

Investigators believe Smith had already been killed by the time his Mercedes-Benz was moved from Porter Ranch to the storage facility about a week after his disappearance, but have not said why the car was in Porter Ranch. Smith was last seen leaving a friend’s home in Ventura County’s Oak Park neighborhood the night of May 1.

Detectives are also trying to piece together how it got to the storage locker, and have asked the public for help in identifying anyone who might have been involved.

Smith’s wife, Lisa, told The Times she and her three sons were “devastated” by news that detectives believe her husband was killed, but it confirmed their worst suspicions.

“Truly, truly this is what my sons and I thought happened all along,” she said in a tearful phone call. “For the rest of the world to know that he didn't leave us is huge. He would have never done that. We knew from the get-go that something horrible had happened because he just wouldn't do this.”

Lisa Smith said she's hopeful that detectives will find out “exactly what happened” to her husband and “bring it to justice.”

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Gavin Smith's wife: Family 'devastated,' worst suspicions confirmed

Gavin Smith's wife said she and her sons are "devastated" by news from homicide investigators that they believe the Fox executive was killed.

"My sons and I are devastated and this has been the hardest 10 and a half months of our life -- being without him," Lisa Smith said in a tearful telephone interview with The Times. "We love him dearly. He's the love of my life and the father of my children and he is gone. It's a tragedy."

On Thursday, authorities announced a major development in Smith's mysterious disappearance. The Sheriff's Department said it had found Smith's Mercedes-Benz last month at a Simi Valley storage facility linked to convicted drug dealer John Creech.

The condition of the car and other witness statements led authorities to conclude Smith had been killed. His body has not been found. He was first reported missing in May.

Lisa Smith said the discovery confirms her family's worst suspicions.

"Truly, truly this is what my sons and I thought happened all along," she said. "For the rest of the world to know that he didn't leave us is huge. He would have never done that. We knew from the get-go that something horrible had happened because he just wouldn't do this."

Rumors had circulated that Smith may have simply left his family. The couple had been having marital problems, according to a Twitter message published -- then later deleted -- by one of the Smith sons.

Lisa Smith said she's hopeful that detectives will find out "exactly what happened" to her husband and "bring it to justice."

"I can't believe they got this huge piece of evidence and I am so thrilled," she said. "We were just waiting and now we are so much closer to closure."

Investigators have identified a possible motive in the alleged killing, but declined to elaborate further because of the ongoing investigation. John Creech, whose wife had met Gavin Smith in rehab, has been identified as a "person of interest" in the investigation. The storage facility where the car was found has been linked to Creech, a convicted drug dealer.

Sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson told The Times that Smith was not believed to be involved in any drug transactions.

Investigators believe Smith had already been killed by the time his Mercedes-Benz was moved from Porter Ranch to a Simi Valley storage facility on May 8 or 9, one week after his disappearance.

Sheriff's investigators asked the public for help in identifying anyone who moved the vehicle.

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Gavin Smith case: How Mercedes turned up in storage unit a mystery

Investigators believe Fox executive Gavin Smith had already been killed by the time his Mercedes-Benz was moved from Porter Ranch to a Simi Valley storage facility, where it was found by detectives in February.

But Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide investigators have not said why Smith's car was in Porter Ranch. The 57-year-old former UCLA basketball player was last seen leaving a friend's home in Ventura County's Oak Park neighborhood the night of May 1.

On Thursday, sheriff's investigators asked the public for help in identifying anyone who moved the vehicle from Porter Ranch to the storage facility about a week later.

Detectives found the car at the facility on Feb. 21 after receiving a tip, said Sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson. The storage locker was not registered to John Creech, a convicted drug dealer identified as a person of interest in the case, but was linked to a person close to him, Dolson said.

Dolson declined to specify what a search of the vehicle revealed, but it was enough to shift the case from a missing persons investigation to a homicide investigation.  Smith's body has not been found, but he is believed dead, officials said.

"The condition of the vehicle in conjunction with cooperating witness statements indicates he was killed," Dolson said. "At this time, the evidence leads us to believe he was murdered."

Investigators have "a good idea" of a motive, Dolson said, "but we're not going to discuss it."

Dolson told The Times that Smith was not believed to be involved in any drug transactions. They declined to disclose the nature of the relationship between Smith and Creech.

Officials have only said Smith and John Creech's wife, Chandrika, knew each other and met in rehab. When asked if their relationship was romantic in nature, Dolson declined to comment.

"They knew each other," he said.

John Creech has not spoken to investigators while serving time at Men's Central Jail for a drug conviction from last year, Dolson said. But Chandrika Creech has spoken with investigators on many occasions, he said.

Dolson declined to say what information Chandrika Creech has provided.

In an interview with a Times reporter at the time of his sentencing on an unrelated drug charge, John Creech said he had never met Smith.

When asked why his property was searched, he said: "I would love to tell you, but I can't. I am told I cannot make any comments."

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