Fullerton triple homicide

2018-11-06T22:45:19Z

2602:306:B8AA:95B0:5C3F:DA8B:4015:1D77: Add section on Jury trial beginning

In September, 2016, a '''triple homicide''' occurred in '''[[w:Fullerton, California|Fullerton]]''', [[w:California|California]], USA. Several of the people involved were active within the [[furry fandom]], and knew each other through [[La Habra Fur Bowling]], a [[fursuit bowling]] social group.<ref name="NYD">[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/california-furry-murder-suspect-shared-plot-online-days-earlier-article-1.2814010 "California furry-murder suspect discussed plot online days before killing"] - article on [[wikipedia:New York Daily News|''New York Daily News'']] by Meg Wagner, dated October 1, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref>

==Events==
On September 19, 2016, Frank "Entey" Felix messaged fellow furry [[Cody Dunn]] on [[Facebook]] that he was stressed about things he couldn't talk about, and "might be assisting someone in murder".<ref name="NYD"/><ref name="OCR">[http://www.ocregister.com/2016/09/28/friend-fullerton-homicide-suspect-talked-about-murder-on-facebook-4-days-before-killings/ "Friend: Fullerton homicide suspect talked about murder on Facebook 4 days before killings"] - article on the ''Orange County Register'' by Scott Schwebke, dated September 28, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2017.</ref> When asked for more details, he claimed he had only been talking about "killing an animal".<ref name="OCR"/>

On Saturday September 24, 2016, at 8:21 a.m., police dispatchers received a [[w:9-1-1|911]] call from a young girl who said that her parents had died.<ref name="LATimes">[http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fullerton-fatalities-20160924-snap-story.html "Three adults found slain in Fullerton home after child calls police; teenager is missing"] - report in the ''L.A. Times''. Dated September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.</ref>

At 8:26 a.m.,<ref name="LATimes"/> police officers responded to a house in the 400 block of South Gilbert Street in Fullerton, and found three adults (two men and a woman) dead inside. All of the bodies had "obvious signs of trauma",<ref name="DailyBreeze">[http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20160924/homicide-investigation-launched-after-child-calls-fullerton-police-to-report-parents-died "Homicide investigation launched after child calls Fullerton police to report parents ‘died’"] - report on the ''Daily Breeze''. Dated September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.</ref> and later reports elaborated that all three were shot.<ref name="AOL">[http://www.aol.com/article/news/2016/09/27/two-california-men-charged-in-suspected-murder-among-furries/21480592/ "Two California men charged in suspected murder among 'furries'"] - report on AOL News. Dated September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.</ref>

Police also located two children inside, ages six and nine.<ref name="KTLA">[http://ktla.com/2016/09/25/2-suspects-teen-girl-in-custody-in-fullerton-triple-murder-case-police/ "3 Suspects, Including Teen Girl, in Custody in Fullerton Triple Murder Case: Police"] - report on KTLA5. Dated September 25, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.</ref>
The six-year-old had been the 911 caller.<ref name="MyNewsLA">[http://mynewsla.com/crime/2016/09/27/murder-charges-in-triple-killing-in-fullerton-childs-frantic-911-call/ "Murder charges in triple killing in Fullerton: Child’s frantic 911 call"] - article on My News LA. Dated September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.</ref> The children were provided with counselling services and taken into the care of relatives.<ref name="KTLA"/>

The victims were eventually identified as '''Jennifer Goodwill Yost''' ("[[Jen-ma]]" in the furry fandom), her husband '''Christopher Yost''' (no relation to [[Chris Foxx|Chris "Foxx" Yost]]), and friend of the family '''Arthur William Boucher'''. The two young children found in the house were the children of Christopher and Jennifer.<ref name="OCWeekly">[http://www.ocweekly.com/news/furries-plushies-and-voodoo-dolls-surround-family-murder-tragedy-7545310 "Furries, Plushies and Voodoo Dolls Surround Family Murder Tragedy"] - article on ''OC Weekly''. Dated September 26, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.</ref>

Police immediately began searching for the children's older sister,<ref name="OCWeekly"/> 17-year-old '''Katlynn Goodwill Yost''' ("[[Daydreamer Foxwolf]]" in the furry fandom),<ref>[http://abc7.com/news/3-found-dead-in-fullerton-home-in-targeted-attack;-teen-missing/1525260/ "3 found dead in Fullerton home in 'targeted attack;' 17-year-old reported missing"] - report on abc7.com. Dated September 25, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.</ref> who was described as a "missing/at-risk person".<ref name="LATimes"/> She was eventually found safe.<ref name="AOL"/>

===Arrests===
[[File:FrankFelixJoshAcostaMugshots.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mugshots of Frank Felix (left) and Josh Acosta (right).]]
At 8:45 a.m. on Sunday September 25, police arrested two males in connection with the crime.<ref name="KTLA"/> They were identified as 21-year-old '''Josh Acosta''' ("[[Josh Lennon]]" in the furry/[[brony]] fandom) of [[w:Fort Irwin, California|Fort Irwin]] and 25-year-old '''Frank Felix''' ("[[Entey Felix]]" in the furry fandom) of [[w:Sun Valley, California|Sun Valley]].<ref name="KTLA"/>

A 17-year-old girl was also detained, but state law prevented officers from disclosing the identity of juveniles placed into police custody.<ref name="KTLA"/> Acosta and Felix were held on $1 million bail each, whilst the girl was held in custody at the Orange County Juvenile Hall.<ref name="MyNewsLA"/>

On Tuesday September 27, Acosta and Felix were charged with three counts of murder, "with the charges including the special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders".<ref name="MyNewsLA"/> No charges were filed against the 17-year-old girl.<ref name="OCRegister">[http://www.ocregister.com/articles/yost-730295-acosta-charged.html "No charges are filed Tuesday against 17-year-old girl in triple homicide in Fullerton"] - article on the ''Orange County Register''. Dated September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.</ref>

Acosta and Felix's arraignment, initially scheduled for September 27,<ref name="CBSLA">[http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/09/27/2-men-charged-in-fullerton-triple-murder/ "2 Men Charged In Fullerton Triple Murder"] - article on the CBS Los Angeles website. Dated September 27, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.</ref> was postponed until October 28.<ref name="CBSLA"/>

On October 28, the arraignment hearing began at the Santa Ana jail.<ref name="Hornet">[http://hornet.fullcoll.edu/fullerton-furry-case-continues/ "Fullerton “Furry” case continues"] - article on The Hornet. Dated October 29, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.</ref> Prior to getting started, Judge Craig E. Robinson asked the defendants' counsels if a request to have media present in the courtroom would be granted, but neither side agreed to have coverage, "given lack of notice".<ref name="Hornet"/> After that, Felix was heard first, and his counsel - speaking on his behalf - requested an alternate arraigment date. This was granted and set for January 13, 2017, at 10 a.m.<ref name="Hornet"/> The same request was granted for Acosta.<ref name="Hornet"/>

On January 13, Felix and Acosta both pleaded not guilty, and were ordered back to court for a pre-trial hearing on March 24.<ref name="OCRegister20170113">[http://www.ocregister.com/articles/yost-741106-fullerton-acosta.html "2 men plead not guilty in Fullerton triple homicide linked to furry community"] - article on the ''Orange County Register''. Dated January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.</ref>

October 22, 2018 jury trial for Acosta begins.<ref name="OCRegister20181022">[https://www.ocregister.com/2018/10/29/trial-begins-for-suspect-in-2016-fullerton-triple-homicide-a-case-that-had-links-to-furry-community/"Trial begins for suspect in 2016 Fullerton triple-homicide, a case that has links to ‘furry’ community"] - article on the ''Orange County Register''. Dated October 29, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.</ref> OC Register reports Katlynn is receiving immunity for her testimony.<ref name="OCRegister20181031">[https://www.ocregister.com/2018/10/30/daughter-of-shooting-victims-testifies-in-trial-for-2016-triple-homicide-with-ties-to-furry-community/"Daughter of Fullerton shooting victims testifies in trial for 2016 triple-homicide with ties to ‘furry’ community"] - article on the ''Orange County Register''. Dated October 31, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.</ref>

==Response==
The relatives of the Yosts set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses and support the two young girls.<ref name="OCRegister"/>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://www.gofundme.com/2r5zrtvz "The Yost Family" page] on GoFundMe

{{event-stub}}
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:2016 events]]

WikiFur - User contributions [en]

Fullerton triple homicide