OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF A MAN CONVICTED OF 1983 BEATING-MURDER OF GIRLFRIENDS 7-MONTH-OLD BABY

OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF A MAN
CONVICTED OF 1983 BEATING-MURDER OF
GIRLFRIENDS 7-MONTH-OLD BABY

SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas is opposing the parole of a man who beat and murdered his girlfriend’s 7-month-old baby in 1983. Anthony Mahmoud Fathi, 52, is currently being held at the Correctional Training Facility, in Soledad, CA. Fathi was found guilty by a jury on June 17, 1985, of first degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison on July 25, 1985. His conviction was overturned on appeal and Fathi was re-tried by the OCDA. He was found guilty by jury in his re-trial of second degree murder on April 2, 1990, and was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on July 29, 1985. Deputy District Attorney James Cloninger prosecuted the re-trial. 

Fathi is scheduled for a parole hearing July 5, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. at the prison before the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations. Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos will appear at the hearing to defend public safety and advocate for justice.

Circumstances of the Murder
On Nov. 29, 1983, Fathi was living with his girlfriend, her 7-month-old baby Daniel Teodurezcu, and two roommates in a Costa Mesa apartment. The baby’s mother left the victim in Fathi’s care for 15 minutes while she showered. During that time, Fathi inflicted a hard blow to the baby’s stomach causing injuries including bruises on his abdomen, three fractured ribs, an internal 5-centimeter tear, swelling to the abdominal cavity caused by the containment of fluid, and bleeding to his rectal area.

Teodurezcu’s mother observed that evening that her baby had injuries to his stomach and was having difficulty breathing. She took him to the hospital with her two roommates, but the inmate refused to go. He delayed the victim from receiving medical attention by struggling with his girlfriend to prevent her from taking the baby to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) was contacted to investigate a possible case of child abuse based on the extent and nature of the baby’s injuries. Teodurezcu died early in the morning on Nov. 30, 1983.

In a subsequent investigation by CMPD, it was determined that on several occasions prior to the murder, the inmate had struck Teodurezcu and bit his cheeks and legs, causing severe bruising. Fathi had previously told his girlfriend that he could not move back to Iran with a woman who had a child from another man, implying that he did not want her to have the child.  Fathi also told his girlfriend prior to the murder that she was not allowed to work because it was against his beliefs.

Fathi murdered one of the most vulnerable victims in the world, a baby who was too small to talk, walk, or speak, let alone defend himself.  He violated the trust of his girlfriend, who left the victim in Fathi’s care for only 15 minutes.  

Failure to Accept Responsibility and Lack of Remorse
Fathi continues to deny any involvement in the victim’s death, has shown no remorse, and continues to maintain that he was wrongfully convicted. When asked at his 2006 parole hearing if he had ever suggested that Teodurezcu’s mother put the child up for adoption, the inmate stated, “even if I was saying that…that would be a very good advice. This child would be alive today if she would have done as I said.”

The inmate has acquired an extensive criminal and disciplinary record while incarcerated. While in prison in 2007, Fathi was found in possession of black tar heroin, for which he was prosecuted and received an additional four years in state prison added to the life sentence he was already serving. He has been cited for six major prison violations, two as recently as 2010, including manufacturing alcohol, refusal to submit to a urine sample, and multiple possession of a controlled substance. He has also been cited for seven minor violations including failing to report to work, failure to report to sick call, stealing State food, delaying yard recall, delaying count, being out of bounds, and failing to respond in writing.

Fathi’s failure to accept responsibility for the beating-murder, continued disregard for prison rules, and complete lack of remorse shows that he poses an unreasonable risk of danger to society and should not be released.

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