Crime & Safety
UPDATED: Son Arrested in San Juan Capistrano Double Murder
Deputies believe the 19-year-old son of Brad and Andra Sachs murdered his parents and left his little brother paralyzed. He could face the death penalty.
Originally posted at 12:32 p.m. March 7, 2014. Updated to add more information, upload a photo.
UPDATE at 2:46 p.m.: The Orange County District Attorney's office has charged a 19-year-old son with the murder of his divorced parents in the San Juan Capistrano home they shared. He could face the death penalty.
Ashton Sachs faces two felony counts of special circumstances murder for multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, and sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm causing death, personal use of a firearm causing bodily injury, and causing paralysis, according to a news release from the DA's office.
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
If convicted, Ashton Sachs faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole and is eligible for the death penalty.
A Capistrano Unified spokesman confirmed that Sachs graduated from Dana Hills High School in 2012.
Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Original story:
The 19-year-old son of a divorced couple found dead last month in the San Juan Capistrano home they shared was being held today without bail, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Ashton Colby Sachs was arrested Thursday night after being questioned by investigators at the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Lt. Jeff Hallock said.
Sheriff's officials planned an early afternoon news conference to provide details on the case.
Bradford Hans Sachs, 57, and his ex-wife, Andra Resa Sachs, 54, were found dead around 2 a.m. Feb. 9 inside their home in the 32000 block of Peppertree Bend. Their 8-year-old son was wounded and is reportedly still hospitalized.
Two teenage girls were present in the residence at the time of the shooting, but were unharmed. The couple had five children.
The couple had extensive real estate holdings and investigators had been working to determine if their deaths were related to their business dealings. Sheriff's officials said, however, there were no signs of forced entry at the home.
The 911 call reporting the shootings was made from inside the house.
--City News Service
Penny Arévalo contributed to this report.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
