| For Immediate Release Case # 11NF0950 January 30, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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HOMELESS MAN FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING FELLOW TRANSIENT BY HITTING HIM WITH
A PIECE OF WOOD
SANTA ANA – A homeless man faces trial tomorrow for murdering another transient man with a piece of wood. Sergio Camacho Gonzalez, 39, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-44, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On the evening of Sept. 25, 2010, Gonzalez is accused of getting into a verbal argument with 56-year-old Andrew Petrusiak in a Fullerton liquor store. At approximately 8:30 p.m., Petrusiak returned to his campsite behind a Fullerton business complex. At approximately 9:15 p.m., Gonzalez is accused of entering the victim’s campsite and murdering him by striking the victim in the back of the head with a piece of wood. Video surveillance in the business complex captured Gonzalez entering the site and leaving four minutes later. Petrusiak was never seen alive again.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2010, Petrusiak’s friend arrived at the victim’s campsite, discovered the victim’s body, and called 911. The Fullerton Police Department (FPD) responded to the scene and investigated this case.
Gonzalez is accused of being identified by witnesses to the argument inside the local liquor store as the man seen entering and exiting the campsite on the night of the murder. The defendant was arrested by FPD March 23, 2011
Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephen McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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