By Redaccion
[email protected]
Investigators from the Ventura County Cold Case Unit have arrested Warren Luther Alexander (DOB 01/12/51), of Diamondhead, Mississippi, on three counts of murder, related to a series of strangulation murders that occurred in 1977.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed three counts of first-degree murder against Alexander. He was extradited to California and arrived on August 6, 2024, from Surry County, North Carolina, where he is awaiting prosecution for a 1992 cold case murder committed in that jurisdiction.
Alexander’s first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court was this morning. The arraignment was continued to August 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11. He is being held in Ventura County Jail without bail.
In February 2023, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit began re-examining the 1977 murders of Kimberly Carol Fritz, Velvet Ann Sanchez, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez. In all three cases, an autopsy revealed the cause of death was strangulation. DNA evidence was collected from the crime scenes and the victims.
This was an investigation between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit, Oxnard Police Department, and Port Hueneme Police Department. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit is comprised of detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, who collectively review and investigate unsolved homicide cases.
A joint news conference with District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Sheriff Jim Fryhoff, Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites, and Port Hueneme Police Chief Michael Federico will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. inside the District Attorney’s Office. Credentialed media can gather outside the District Attorney’s Office on the third floor of the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Justice to be escorted to the media room.
Photo and video assets, including booking photos and extradition handoff video, will be provided to media in attendance.
Case: 2024003627 & 2024014334
Defendant Information:
Warren Luther Alexander (DOB 01/12/51)
Diamondhead, Mississippi
Charges:
(3 counts) PC 187(a) – First-degree murder
Special Allegations:
PC 190.2(c)(5) – Multiple murders
Victims:
Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18 (P.H.P.D. report # 77-3786)
Occurred: 05/29/1977
Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31 (O.P.D. report # 77-15328)
Occurred: 09/08/1977
Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21 (VCSO report # 77-20537)
Occurred: 12/27/1977
