Case #14ZF0333
Date: October 14, 2016
MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF PARENTS AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SIBLINGS, CAUSING PARALYSIS OF 8-YEAR-OLD BROTHER
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting-murder of his parents and attempted murder of two of his siblings, causing the paralysis of his 8-year-old brother. Ashton Colby Sachs, 22,pleaded guilty on Sept. 20, 2016, at his request and without a previously scheduled hearing, to two felony counts of special circumstances murder for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, and sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm causing death, personal use of a firearm causing bodily injury, and causing paralysis. Sachs was sentenced to consecutively serve two life terms without parole, two life terms, three indeterminate terms of 25 years to life, and 30 determinate years in state prison.
At the time of the crime, Ashton Sachs was living in Seattle. Ashton Sachs returned to Orange County with the intention of murdering his family. In the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2014, he entered his family’s San Juan Capistrano home armed with a firearm.
The defendant entered his parents’ bedroom and shot and murdered his 54-year-old mother Andra Sachs and 57-year-old father Bradford Sachs as they slept.
Ashton Sachs entered the bedroom of his 8-year-old brother then shot and attempted to murder the victim. The 8-year-old boy survived, but was paralyzed by the shooting.
Two of Ashton Sachs’ sisters were also in the home at the time of the crime. Ashton Sachs shot at and attempted to murder his 17-year-old sister, but this victim was not struck.
Ashton Sachs fled the scene and returned to Seattle.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case and arrested the defendant on March 6, 2014.
At the sentencing today, impact statements from Lisa McGowan, Bradford Sachs’ sister, and Myles Sachs, the defendant’s brother, were read to the court pursuant to Marsy’s Law.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.