Civilian Jennifer Asbenson was Raped and Abducted by an Unknown Attacker Later Identified as Former Camp Pendleton Marine Andrew Urdiales, Awaiting Trial (1992)

On September 28, 1992August 11, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, Sexual Assault, USMCLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2017-08-09 at 4.14.12 PM — Jennifer Asbenson, Civilian, California

September 28, 1992: Jennifer Asbenson, 19 (at the time of crime), survived a rape and abduction by former Camp Pendleton Marine Andrew Urdiales in California. She was able to escape from his trunk and run into the arms of two other Marines driving in the area. She did not know who her attacker was at the time of the crime but eventually was able to identify Andrew Urdiales in a police photo line-up. She testified on behalf of three women murdered by Urdiales in Illinois and continues to await his trial in California for five more homicides and her case.

Camp Pendleton Marine veteran Andrew Urdiales is accused of murdering eight women from 1986 to 1996, five in California and three in Illinois, and raping and abducting a 19 year old, Jennifer Asbenson, who escaped and survived. Urdiales was indicted for three murders in Illinois and was sentenced to death but the death sentence was commuted after Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011. Instead he received three life sentences for the murders of Laura Uylaki, Cassandra Corum, and Lynn Huber. A gun confiscated in a separate incident linked the three murders in Illinois together and during an interrogation, Urdiales admitted in detail to five cold case murders in California too. After years of legal wrangling, Urdiales was eventually extradited to California and indicted in 2009 on five counts of first degree murder. He was accused of killing Robbin Brandley, Julie McGhee, Mary Ann Wells, Tammie Erwin, and Denise Maney. Initially California was seeking the death penalty but Proposition 62 was repealed in November 2016. Urdiales continues to await trial in California.

A woman’s story of survival is truly inspiring after she was abducted and tortured by a notorious serial killer. Jennifer Asbenson was 19 when she was abducted by Andrew Urdiales. 24 years later, she returned to California’s Desert Hot Springs to record a video explaining her daring escape to encourage others never to give up. Asbenson was walking to a bus stop near Palm Springs, California, in September 1992 when she was offered a ride by Urdiales, who is believed to have killed eight women. –Inside Edition

Julie McGhee Found Fatally Shot in a Ditch in Cathedral City, California; Former Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death for Five Murders (July 17, 1988)

On July 17, 1988August 6, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, USMCLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2017-08-07 at 4.07.32 PM — Julie McGhee, Civilian, California

July 17, 1988: Julie McGhee, 30, Cathedral City, California

Marine veteran Andrew Urdiales is accused of murdering eight women from 1986 to 1996, five in California and three in Illinois, and raping and abducting 19 year old Jennifer Asbenson who escaped and survived. Urdiales was indicted for three murders in Illinois and was sentenced to death but the death sentence was commuted after Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011. Instead he received three life sentences for the murders of Laura Uylaki, Cassandra Corum, and Lynn Huber. A gun confiscated in a separate incident linked the three murders in Illinois together and during an interrogation, Urdiales admitted in detail to five cold case murders in California too.

After years of legal wrangling, Urdiales was eventually extradited to California and indicted in 2009 on five counts of first degree murder. He was accused of killing Robbin Brandley, Julie McGhee, Mary Ann Wells, Tammie Erwin, and Denise Maney while stationed at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. On May 23, 2018, Andrew Urdiales was convicted of five murders by a jury that deliberated for about a day before recommending in June 2018 that he be sentenced to death for each of the five murders. On November 2, 2018, corrections officials said they found Urdiales unresponsive during a security check at San Quentin State Prison; former Marine and serial killer Andrew Urdiales died by suicide.

In the News:

The murders occurred when Andrew Urdiales was stationed at various Marine Corps facilities in Southern California. -CBS Los Angeles (October 5, 2018)

Related Links:
48 Hours Mystery: Escape from a Serial Killer
State of Illinois vs. Andrew Urdiales (2007)
OC goes after Illinois serial killer suspect
Serial Killer Wanted for Trial in Saddleback Slayings
Former Pendleton Marine Turned Serial Killer To Be Charged With SoCal Murders
Serial killer charged with 5 murders in SoCal
Triple killer charged in five California murders
Serial killer to face charges in 5 deaths in Southern California
Illinois convict faces charges in 5 California deaths
OCDA finally charges murderer responsible for 1986 Saddleback stabbing
Andrew Urdiales, Serial Killer, Extradited to OC For Killing Saddleback College Student Robbin Brandley
Ex-Marine accused in deaths of 5 Southern Calif. women to be extradited
Ex-Marine indicted in serial murders of five women in California
California Seeks Death for Chicago Serial Killer
Serial Killer’s Brother Called to Testify at California Murder Trial
Ex-Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death for California Serial Killings
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales sentenced to death in murders of 5 women in Southern California
Ex-Marine Serial Killer Who Slayed 5 SoCal Women Gets Death Penalty
Andrew Urdiales: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales was a monster masquerading as a marine who nearly got away with murder
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales dies of possible suicide on San Quentin’s death row
Ex-Marine Turned Notorious Serial Killer Commits Suicide On Death Row
‘Eyes of the devil’: Serial killer and mass murderer take own lives on death row
Two death row killers die in apparent suicides over weekend, San Quentin officials say
2 serial killers found dead within hours on California’s death row
24 Years After Encounter With Serial Killer, Woman Still Seeks Justice
10 Killers Who Targeted College Women
Near-victim of serial killer recalls years of struggle after her attack
Timeline: A look back at the Andrew Urdiales murders
Violent Crime, Non Combat Death, and Suicide at Camp Pendleton, California (USMC)
Honoring the Victims of Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales, US Marine Corps, in California and Illinois (1986-1996)
Convicted Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales Died by Suicide in Prison; Found Guilty of 8 Murders in Illinois & California, Sentenced to Death (November 2, 2018)
David Wohl interviews the only survivor of an attack by a confessed serial killer: Part 1
David Wohl interviews the one survivor of serial killer Andrew Urdiales: Part 2

Army Pvt Laura Vickery-Clay Raped & Murdered by Fort Bragg Soldier; Ronald Gray Sentenced to Death by Military Courts for Two Murders & One Attempted Murder (1986)

On December 15, 1986December 30, 2016 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US Army Seal — Pvt. Laura Vickery-Clay, US Army

On December 15, 1986, Army soldier Ronald Gray abducted, raped, sodomized, and murdered Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, 18, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. According to reports, witnesses saw Laura at a local store with Ronald Gray the night she disappeared and Gray’s finger print evidence was found on the hood of Laura’s vehicle. About a month later on January 17, 1987, a soldier discovered Laura’s half-naked, decomposed body in the woods on Fort Bragg. She had been raped, sodomized, and shot in the neck, forehead, chest, and back of the head. She had also suffered blunt force trauma to various parts of her body. The murder weapon was found in close proximity to the victim’s body. In 1988, Ronald Gray was found guilty by the military courts of the premeditated murders of civilian Kimberly Ann Ruggles and Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, and the attempted premeditated murder of Private Mary Ann Lang Nameth. On April 12, 1988, Ronald Gray was sentenced to death, given a dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures, and a reduction to Private E-1. In 2008, President George Bush gave the final approval for the military execution of Ronald Gray. In December 2016, media reports indicated that the military is moving forward with the lethal injection execution of Ronald Gray.

Related Links:
Soldier Gets Death Sentence for Raping, Killing 2 Women
United States, Appellee v. Ronald A. GRAY, U.S. Army, Appellant (1999)
Bush: Former Army cook’s crimes warrant execution
Bush OKs Execution for Army Private on Death Row
Hearing set for former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of rapes and murders
Soldier’s Denied Appeal May Pave Way for Death Sentence
Twenty-eight years later, Winter Garden man sees his daughter’s killer
Ft. Bragg Killer To Be Executed
Military to execute murderer and rapist Ronald Gray, a former soldier, after 8-year delay
US military to execute first inmate in over 50 years
Ronald Gray, US Army, Sentenced to Death by Military Court for the Rape & Murder of Army Private Laura Vickery-Clay & Civilian Kimberly Ruggles (1986)
U.S. Military May Perform First Execution In Over 50 Years (YouTube)
Execution Date to Be Set for Former U.S. Army Soldier (YouTube)

According to CNN, the US military could soon execute someone for the first time since 1961. Ronald Gray, a former Army soldier, has been on military death row at Fort Leavenworth since 1988 when he was convicted of killing five women and raping several others in 1986 and 1987 while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. A civilian court gave him eight life sentences, but a military court sentenced him to death. Last week, a judge ruled Gray’s stay in prison was no longer in effect and denied any further stays. Following the ruling, an execution date for Gray could be announced as soon as next month. –Wochit News

Robbin Brandley Found Stabbed to Death at Saddleback College; Former Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death in California for 5 Murders (January 18, 1986)

On January 18, 1986August 6, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, USMCLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2017-08-07 at 3.52.40 PM — Robbin Brandley, Civilian, California

January 18, 1986: Robbin Brandley, 23, Saddleback Community College, California

Robbin was murdered in a dark, dangerous, poorly guarded and unlighted parking lot at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo. She was viciously stabbed over 40 times. She was not robbed or sexually molested. –Who Murdered Robbin Brandley

In the News:

The murders occurred when Andrew Urdiales was stationed at various Marine Corps facilities in Southern California. -CBS Los Angeles (October 5, 2018)

Related Links:
Who Murdered Robbin Brandley
48 Hours Mystery: Escape from a Serial Killer
State of Illinois vs. Andrew Urdiales (2007)
OC goes after Illinois serial killer suspect
Serial Killer Wanted for Trial in Saddleback Slayings
Former Pendleton Marine Turned Serial Killer To Be Charged With SoCal Murders
Serial killer charged with 5 murders in SoCal
Triple killer charged in five California murders
Serial killer to face charges in 5 deaths in Southern California
Illinois convict faces charges in 5 California deaths
OCDA finally charges murderer responsible for 1986 Saddleback stabbing
Andrew Urdiales, Serial Killer, Extradited to OC For Killing Saddleback College Student Robbin Brandley
Ex-Marine accused in deaths of 5 Southern Calif. women to be extradited
Ex-Marine indicted in serial murders of five women in California
California Seeks Death for Chicago Serial Killer
Serial Killer’s Brother Called to Testify at California Murder Trial
Ex-Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death for California Serial Killings
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales sentenced to death in murders of 5 women in Southern California
Ex-Marine Serial Killer Who Slayed 5 SoCal Women Gets Death Penalty
Andrew Urdiales: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales was a monster masquerading as a marine who nearly got away with murder
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales dies of possible suicide on San Quentin’s death row
Ex-Marine Turned Notorious Serial Killer Commits Suicide On Death Row
‘Eyes of the devil’: Serial killer and mass murderer take own lives on death row
Two death row killers die in apparent suicides over weekend, San Quentin officials say
2 serial killers found dead within hours on California’s death row
24 Years After Encounter With Serial Killer, Woman Still Seeks Justice
10 Killers Who Targeted College Women
Near-victim of serial killer recalls years of struggle after her attack
Timeline: A look back at the Andrew Urdiales murders
Violent Crime, Non Combat Death, and Suicide at Camp Pendleton, California (USMC)
Honoring the Victims of Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales, US Marine Corps, in California and Illinois (1986-1996)
Convicted Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales Died by Suicide in Prison; Found Guilty of 8 Murders in Illinois & California, Sentenced to Death (November 2, 2018)
David Wohl interviews the only survivor of an attack by a confessed serial killer: Part 1
David Wohl interviews the one survivor of serial killer Andrew Urdiales: Part 2

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Tag: Abduction

Civilian Jennifer Asbenson was Raped and Abducted by an Unknown Attacker Later Identified as Former Camp Pendleton Marine Andrew Urdiales, Awaiting Trial (1992)

Julie McGhee Found Fatally Shot in a Ditch in Cathedral City, California; Former Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death for Five Murders (July 17, 1988)

Army Pvt Laura Vickery-Clay Raped & Murdered by Fort Bragg Soldier; Ronald Gray Sentenced to Death by Military Courts for Two Murders & One Attempted Murder (1986)

Robbin Brandley Found Stabbed to Death at Saddleback College; Former Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death in California for 5 Murders (January 18, 1986)

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: