| For Immediate Release Case # 08NF0487
January 14, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
|
ESTRANGED HUSBAND SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1983 MURDER OF HIS WIFE AFTER BEING LINKED THROUGH DNA
SANTA ANA – An estranged husband was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison for murdering his wife in 1983. He was linked to the crime through DNA evidence. William Gregory Mordick, 65, Spokane, WA, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 13, 2010, of one felony count of murder.
On Jan. 22, 1983, Mordick drove to the Anaheim Hills home of his estranged wife, Katherine, with whom he had two daughters, ages 2 and 4 years old. The defendant was concerned that he was going to lose custody of his two daughters at a divorce court proceeding scheduled for six days later.
After arriving at the home, Mordick put the two children in his car and went back inside the house. He murdered 29-year-old Katherine by slashing her throat. He left her body on the dining room floor and fled the scene. The victim was discovered the following day by her brother and boyfriend, who went to check on her after becoming concerned when she didn’t return phone calls.
The murder was investigated and evidence was collected, including a blood sample provided by Mordick. The defendant later moved to Spokane, WA, with his two young daughters.
The case went unsolved for two decades until the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office TracKRS (Task Force Review Aimed at Catching Killers, Rapists, and Sexual Offenders) Unit began re-investigating the murder. Mordick was linked to the crime through DNA from a blood smear at the crime scene using DNA technology that was not available in 1983.
Mordick was arrested 25 years after the murder on Feb. 6, 2008, at his Washington home. He was brought back to Orange County to face charges on Feb. 21, 2008. This was the second jury trial against Mordick, as the first jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in this case on Nov. 9, 2009.
During the trial, the defendant denied committing the murder but admitted during cross examination by the OCDA that he had five prior physical altercations with the victim.
During the sentencing today, five of the victim’s sisters and brothers gave impact statements to the court. Katherine’s sister Mary O’Connell said that the defendant got away with murder for 28 years and it was now time for him to be held accountable. She stated, “Punish him for every time he was unfaithful [to my sister]. Punish him for every time he was cruel. Punish him for every time he knocked her down. Punish him for every time he hit her. Punish him for sneaking back into the house that morning”