| For Immediate Release Case # 09CF0369
February 13, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
VIRGINIA MAN CHARGED WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER FOR FINANCIAL GAIN OF AN ELDERLY ARIZONA INVESTOR AFTER LURING THE VICTIM OUT OF DANA POINT HARBOR ON BOAT
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney filed special circumstances murder for financial gain charges against a Virginia man, for luring an elderly Phoenix investor onto a boat off Dana Point Harbor last February. Gary A. Shawkey, 46, Mechanicsville, VA, was charged with one count of murder with a sentencing enhancement of intentional murder carried out for financial gain. If convicted, the defendant will be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Shawkey is currently in custody in Virginia on unrelated theft charges. The defendant is not eligible for bail. The Orange County District Attorney has requested that Shawkey be extradited to Orange County, CA to face charges. There are no California court dates set at this time.
In the past, Shawkey has claimed to be a professional fisherman and a bail bonds man, among other professions. At the time of the arrest by Virginia authorities on the unrelated charges, the defendant claimed he was working for a limousine company in New Jersey. For a few years prior to February 2008, the defendant is accused of swindling about $1 million from a 71-year-old Phoenix man, who had retired from the software industry, by promising him great returns on imaginary investments. In February 2008, with victim Robert Vendrick becoming reluctant to invest more money, the defendant is accused of convincing him to invest in a new venture involving the development of “top secret computer software” for the federal government. The defendant is accused of convincing the victim to wire $100,000 to a bank account and telling the victim to fly to Orange County to meet with federal agents to finalize the project.
When the defendant and the victim arrived in Orange County, the defendant is accused of buying a boat and convincing the victim to sail to San Clemente Island to meet with “federal agents.” Shawkey and Vendrick got on the boat and sailed out of Dana Point Harbor and the victim was never seen again. Sometime between Feb. 14, 2008, and Feb. 24, 2008, Shawkey is accused of murdering Vendrick and disposing of the body for financial gain.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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