FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 13CF0291
Date: August 28, 2017
79-YEAR-OLD MAN CONVICTED AND FOUND LEGALLY SANE IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOTING-MURDER OF DOCTOR IN NEWPORT BEACH MEDICAL OFFICE
SANTA ANA – A man convicted of special circumstances murder for shooting his doctor in a Newport Beach medical office was found by a jury to be legally sane today.
|
Defendant |
Charges |
Maximum Sentence |
Court Date |
|
Stanwood Fred Elkus, 79, Lake Elisnore |
Found guilty by a jury on Aug. 21, 2017, of one felony count of:
Sentencing Enhancement Found True:
|
Life in state prison without the possibility of parole |
Sentencing
Sept. 15, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- In 1992, Elkus was diagnosed with a narrow urethra by victim Dr. Ronald Gilbert.
- Gilbert recommended that the defendant undergo a procedure to widen his urethra and the operation was performed by two different doctors.
- Elkus developed an obsession with the procedure, believing that it had damaged his prostate and destroyed his sex drive.
- The defendant blamed the victim for the “failed procedure” and began plotting his revenge.
- At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2013, Elkus arrived at his doctor’s office in Newport Beach for an appointment while armed with a firearm.
- The defendant waited in an exam room until his doctor, victim Ronald Gilbert, entered.
- Elkus then pulled out the firearm and murdered Gilbert by shooting him multiple times.
- Other doctors heard the shots and ran to assist Gilbert. They called 911 and attempted to revive the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Elkus gave the firearm to a medical staff member in the office and surrendered to police without incident.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.