Preliminary Hearing Underway For Alleged Cold Case Serial Killer In Ventura County

Wednesday October 16, 2024

(Photos courtesy Ventura County District Attorney)

     Updated--What is estimated to be a five day long preliminary hearing got underway Wednesday in Ventura County for a man alleged to be a cold case serial killer.

     73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander has pleaded not guilty to three counts of First Degree Murder and has also denied two Special Circumstance Allegations of multiple murders.

     Prosecutors say DNA evidence allegedly links Alexander to the 1977 strangulation deaths of Kimberly Carol Fritz, Velvet Ann Sanchez, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez.

     Fritz, 18, was murdered in Port Hueneme on May 29, 1977, Sanchez, 31, was killed in Oxnard on September 8, 1977, and Rodriguez, 21, died on December 27, 1977.

     The cold case investigation into the deaths began in 2023 and involved the Ventura County DA’s Office, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Oxnard Police, and Port Hueneme Police.

     It led to Alexander who was found in North Carolina where he is facing prosecution for a cold case murder committed in that jurisdiction.

     He was extradited from North Carolina to Ventura County earlier this month.

     Wednesday's preliminary hearing involved the introduction of evidence by the prosecution and what is called a conditional examination of the first witness.

     A conditional examination is recorded on video and is usually conducted when the witness, for whatever reason, may not be able to testify during trial.

     The witness completed that testimony and the hearing was set to continue Thursday.