| For Immediate Release February 14, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MEDIA ADVISORY REGARDING THE CHRISTOPHER DORNER CASE
WHO: The Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA)
WHAT: Will continue the ongoing investigation into the Christopher Dorner case and release a report regarding the facts and circumstances of the case upon completion of the investigation. The date is to be determined.
BACKGROUND: On Feb. 3, 2013, IPD responded to the scene of a double murder in Irvine involving victims Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence. Dorner was subsequently identified as the defendant.
Between Feb. 3, 2013, and the present, the OCDA and IPD have prepared, reviewed and executed multiple search warrants related to the investigation including the defendant’s social networking pages, residences, and cell phones.
On Feb. 6, 2013, the OCDA provided legal analysis and investigation strategy and signed an arrest warrant, prepared by IPD. The arrest warrant was signed by the court authorizing the arrest of Dorner for the murders of Quan and Lawrence.
Extensive evidence was gathered by IPD and other law enforcement agencies, and the OCDA prepared a criminal complaint against Dorner on Feb. 8, 2013, after determining that he would be proven guilty of the murders of Quan and Lawrence.
The criminal complaint against Dorner included two felony counts of murder with special circumstance allegations for lying in wait and for committing multiple murders, and an additional sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. These charges carry a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. The OCDA would likely have sought the death penalty in this case.
In the interest of public safety, and for tactical and investigative purposes, the OCDA made the legal determination to wait to file the criminal charges against Dorner until he was arrested and taken into custody. This decision was reviewed and discussed daily and the OCDA was prepared to file a case against the defendant on a moment’s notice should he have been apprehended or new developments in the case deemed it appropriate.