The Costa Mesa PD says it has arrested a suspect who allegedly killed a man in Los Alamitos, dismembered the victim's head, left arm and right hand...and discarded the dismembered body parts in LB's El Dorado Park.
He then returned to OC and allegedly shot and killed a woman in the deceased man's apartment.
[Afternoon update: LBPD PIO Lisa Massacani says the following areas (as of 3:30 p.m. Friday) are closed due to the above investigation: Nature Center from Flood Control to East City Limit...and Spring St. to Willow St. (situation is understandably fluid and could change). [end afternoon update]
On Saturday, May 22, 2010, at approximately 9:20 PM, the Costa Mesa Police Department responded to the above location reference a possible deceased person. Arriving officers found the victim, Kibuishi, deceased from what was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head. The scene of the crime also suggested a sexual assault had occurred. The apartment in question belonged to Samuel Herr, who was not present and whose whereabouts was unknown. Herr’s father had gone to the apartment to check on him and found Kibuishi deceased. Text messages were found between Kibuishi and Herr’s cell phones that showed Kibuishi voluntarily went to the apartment. At that time, Herr was considered the primary suspect and was wanted for questioning.
As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives learned that ATM withdrawals were being made with Herr’s ATM card at various locations in Long Beach. Detectives conducted surveillance and detained and arrested a 17 year old juvenile in regards to the investigation. It was learned that the juvenile was given the card and withdrawing money at the direction of Daniel Wozniak.
In association to the case, Wozniak was arrested at a restaurant in Huntington Beach. After further investigation, it was determined that on Friday, May 21, 2010 at approximately 1 PM, Wozniak and Herr drove to the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base where Wozniak shot and killed Herr for financial gain in the base’s theater facility. Wozniak then dismembered Herr by removing his head, left arm, and right hand. Wozniak then took the dismembered body parts and discarded them at the El Dorado Park in Long Beach. After leaving the park, Wozniak began to use Herr’s cell phone to text message Kibuishi and arrange for her to come to Herr’s apartment. On Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, at approximately 12:04 AM, Kibuishi arrived and Wozniak met her at the apartment. Wozniak assisted Kibuishi into the apartment, where he shot and killed her. Wozniak then staged the crime scene to appear as if a sexual assault had occurred by partially removing her clothing.
With the new information, the Costa Mesa Police Department initiated searches at the Los Alamitos Base and El Dorado Park with the assistance of the Long Beach Police Department and FBI. A crime scene and Herr’s torso were discovered at the Los Alamitos Base.
Members of the Costa Mesa Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, and FBI are currently conducting a search of El Dorado Park for the dismembered body parts.
LBReport.com photo credit: Daryl Supernaw
This investigation is being conducted with the assistance of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, FBI, Long Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, Orange County Coroner’s Office, Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
No association has been established between the involved individuals and the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.
Anyone with additional information on the case is encouraged to contact: Detective Sergeant Ed Everett at 714.754.5395; or Detective Jose Morales at 714.754.5637
