The Orange County Tribune April 20, 2022

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Covering Garden Grove Huntington Beach Stanton Westminster

Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, April 20, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

Suspect Is Held in Two Murders In Anaheim DEBRA NEWELL SPEAKING TO GARDEN GROVE ROTARY She told her story of a terrifying life with “Dirty John” Meehan

How she survived “Dirty John”

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

Debra Newell’s life has taken a long, wide and sensational course. It started growing up in Garden Grove and moving on to a successful career as an interior designer.

But she is best known as a central figure in maelstrom of deceit and danger seemingly from straight out of supermarket tabloids, finally completing the circle with an speech last week before the Garden Grove Rotary Club.

Followers of true crime accounts may recognize the name. She is the author

of the best-selling book, “Surviving Dirty John,” an account of her hellish relationship with John Meehan, a violent psychopath who wooed and won her, and finally was killed.

Why would she want to go so publically with such a heartbreaking tale?

“I feel that if just one woman is helped,” she said in her remarks on April 13 at the Navy Golf Course Continued on page 2

Coronavirus stats still trend down While concerns are growing across the nation about the new subvariant of the Omicron version of the coronavirus, it hasn’t reversed the decline of cases and deaths in Orange County.

Tuesday’s semi-weekly

report from the county health care agency on key metrics on the coronavirus showed good news.

The four-day total of confirmed new cases (covering Friday through Monday) was 772, which is an average of 193 a

day. That compares to Thursday’s count of three-day average of 237 a day.

Tuesday’s death total is eight, which is an average of two per day.

Continued on page 3

Anaheim police homicide detectives have arrested 26-year-old Irvine resident Ramy Fahim on suspicion of murder for a doublehomicide that occurred Tuesday morning.

According to the APD, at about 6:30 a.m. Anaheim Police Dispatch received reports of a possible assault in progress occurring inside an apartment in the 2100 block of E. Katella Avenue.

Officers responded to the location where they discovered two deceased adult male victims.

Fahim was also located inside the apartment, suffering from a minor

RAMY FAHIM (APD photo)

injury. Fahim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment before being interviewed by homicide detectives who ultimately Continued on page 2

Victim in stable condition after shooting in G. Grove A Garden Grove man is stable condition at a local hospital after being shot several times Sunday night.

According to Sgt. Charlie Loffler of the GGPD, the incident took place in the 12400 block of Haster Street (north of Lampson Avenue). Police were summoned at around 9:11 p.m. regarding a gunshot victim.

Arriving officers learned that the victim – identified as a 26-year-old Hispanic

male – had been in a “verbal altercation” with three Hispanic males just before the shooting.

The suspects were last seen fleeing east along Lampson and have not been identified.

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his leg and abdomen. He is expected to survive.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Dustin Staal at (714) 741-5227.

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2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

How she survived “Dirty John” Continued from page 1

clubhouse, “it’s worth it.

“There are four women a day murdered by their significant others in the United States alone,” she said. “One percent of the population is a psychopath. Five percent are sociopaths. We are in a world where there is a lot of danger.”

Newell was born and raised in Garden Grove, and was graduated from Santiago High School in 1973. Although bound for business success, tragedy also seemed to follow her.

In 1984 her sister, Cindy (Newell) Vickers, was fatally shot by her estranged husband, Billy Vickers, in a home in Laguna Niguel.

He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and served less than three years in prison.

In October 2014, after four marriages, Debra was ready for another chance at love, and she met Meehan on a dating site. He said he was a medical doctor and a veteran of the Iraq War. “He had everything on my checklist that I was looking for,” she said. He was handsome, charming and romantic. He had the right career, the right looks and, maybe, the right timing.

What she didn’t know at the time was that he was not a doctor, but was a consummate con artist, ex-con and serial abuser, against whom other women had obtained numerous

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

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restraining orders.

There were warning signs about his sometimes-strange behavior (and clothing styles with shorts and surgical scrubs) and an always-empty wallet.

Two of her daughters, Terra and Jacquelyn, were suspicious of her new beau, but Debra initially was “swept off her feet.”

The two lovers moved in together less than a month later and were married in December.

Tensions rose and by March 2016, Debra tried to get loose of him by seeking to annul their marriage and get a restraining order against him.

“Dirty John” – the name he got for his behavior in college – reacted by demanding money, making threats and eventually setting Debra’s car on fire.

On Aug. 20, he attacked Terra with a knife. The daughter fought back and was able to kick the weapon out of his hand, and stab him fatally, including one thrust through an eye.

“She called me and said, ‘Mom, I think I killed your husband,’” recalls Debra.

Four days later he died at an area hospital. Authorities concluded it was a clear case of self-defense.

The experience attracted the attention of Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Gifford who wrote a six-part series on the story of her relationship with ‘”Dirty John.”

It would also become a podcast, a made-for-TV movie, a television series and lead to many TV appearances. Gifford also wrote the book on “Dirty John.”

She said she lay her past before the public because she has the mission of educating women about the dangers of men who are too good to be true.

There have been legislative successes in getting new protections against abuse.

Additionally, she said she’s “helped numerous women. I The best in local news The Orange County TRIBUNE

take every single e-mail and I find a place for them to hide, or share anything I can that’s going to help them.

“Or I just listen and cry with them now. I feel this is my passion now. I tell them they are OK, they are the victim of something they could not control.”

Suspect is held in two murders Tuesday a.m. in Anaheim Continued from page 1

placed Fahim under arrest for the murder of the two victims.

Fahim’s vehicle was located nearby and seized as evidence.

A knife believed to have been used in the murders was also located at the crime scene.

One homicide victim has been identified as 23-yearold Jonathan Andrew Bahm, a resident of Anaheim. Bahm was a resident of the apartment where the murders occurred.

Homicide detectives have declined to provide any additional information on any relationship between Bahm and Fahim at this time, or possible motive for the murders.

Identification of the second victim has not yet been completed.

Fahim was booked at the Anaheim City Jail without bail pending a scheduled court appearance.

APD homicide detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call (714) 321-3669 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIPOCCS.

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ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 3

News&Views MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE BUNNY

n WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Can cannabis save this city from grim financial outlook?

By Shanya Rod Orange County Tribune

SATURDAY’S EGGS-CAVATION in the Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove offered Easter Egg hunts, games and a chance to highfive the creature that brings all the chocolate to good kids (Orange County Tribune photo).

The best in local news

local

County NE

Fugitive arrested after flight from halfway house SANTA ANA (AP) – Police captured a Garden Grove man who disappeared from a halfway house following an early release from prison five years after stabbing his mother to death, authorities said Sunday.

Ike Nicholas Souzer, 18, removed his electronic monitoring bracelet Wednesday within hours of being moved to the halfway house in Santa Ana, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Souzer had been released that day from a maximum security jail.

A photo distributed following

his arrest Sunday shows Souzer sitting in the front seat of a vehicle with his hands behind his back. His arrest was confirmed

by Santa Ana Police Sgt. Maria Lopez.

“I told the DA’s office, with that ankle bracelet, he’s not going to make it through the day,’’ Eleanor Watson, Souzer’s grandmother, who was notified of his impending release, said on Saturday.

“He cut the one off to kill his mother, for crying out loud.

What’s going on with the courts down here?’’

Continued on page 4

Cannabis retail might be one answer to the City of Westminster’s financial troubles.

While the city could get its very first cannabis retailer, there are several steps to go through before the City Council decides if this is a viable option.

The Westminster City Council, at the April 13 meeting, voted 4-0 to receive and file a presentation from a potential cannabis retailer and bring back additional analysis for review.

Mayor Tri Ta recused himself from the vote, as the proposed location of the shop is near his home.

Shryne Group, a cannabis company, has approached the council with an opportunity to open up Westminster’s first cannabis retailer at 14191 Beach Blvd.

Shryne Group is the largest cannabis operator in California.

At the meeting, the company’s president, Tak Sato, said that its nine retail stores in Southern California average $27 million per store because of their number one brand, Stiiizy.

The company had revenue in excess of $400 million in 2021 and estimates approximately $700 million in 2022. It believes that at any location in Westminster, it can average around $35 million dollars in store sales its first year, and assuming a 6% tax rate for city cannabis taxes, would generate $2.1 million in tax revenue for the city, Sato said during the presentation.

The City Council is looking for other means of revenue as Measure SS, a 1 percent sales tax that was approved by voters

in 2016, is expiring at the end of the year.

Vice Mayor Carlos Manzo was in support of cannabis retail as a source of revenue.

“We have our Measure SS sunsetting and I think we owe it to our residents to look for new revenue streams. Many cities are turning to cannabis to make up for their budget shortfalls,” said Vice Mayor Manzo.

“We can’t thumb our nose to any potential revenue. We can’t afford it. We can’t afford to stand idle. We must do what we can to infuse our city with much-needed revenue.”

Cannabis businesses are currently prohibited from operating in Westminster.

Coronavirus stats still on the decline Continued from page 1

The previous tally was seven per day.

Hospitalizations are at 60 (compared to 67) and the use of ICUs is 10 (compared to 13).

To date, the OC has had 550,201 confirmed cases, of which 539,140 are considered recovered. The death toll is at 6,966.

Nationally, new coronavirus deaths – over a 14-day period – rose by 43 percent while deaths declined by 33 percent, according to The New York Times.

In California, new cases are up by 21 percent and deaths down by 12 percent, calculates Los Angeles Times over a similar period.

4 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Fugitive convicted killer apprehended Continued from page 3

Souzer was 13 when he stabbed his mother, Barbara Scheuer-Souzer, at their home in Garden Grove. At the time of the 2017 killing, he was on home detention with a history of running away, and was described by a family member as autistic and volatile.

His defense lawyer said Souzer had been abused by his mother, an allegation Watson maintains was false.

Souzer was convicted in juvenile court of manslaughter in 2019.

The prosecutor’s office described Souzer as an ``extremely dangerous and violent criminal,`` an assessment Watson agreed with.

Watson said she was told a judge decided to release him early “to give him a chance, but you don’t give a chance to a person who has this personality type and has already murdered.’’

Souzer’s sentence was initially set to be completed in July

2023, but he was released early, with orders to remain under electronic monitoring,.

While in custody, Souzer faced additional felony charges in December tied to attacks in August 2021 on three correctional officers.

Those counts were reduced to misdemeanors and Souzer was given credit for the time he had already spent behind bars.

Souzer had a prior history of escape. While awaiting trial in 2019, he found his way to a rooftop at the Orange County Juvenile Hall, vaulted a high perimeter fence, and was picked up by police later that day at a McDonald’s.

IKE SOUZER Fugitive apprehended

Pedestrian struck and killed An elderly man was killed Thursday when he was struck by an automobile as he walked across a street in Huntington Beach.

According to Jennifer Carey, public information officer for the HBPD, the incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Yorktown Avenue east of Newland Street.

Arriving officers found a man – his age estimated at 70 – lying in the roadway. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

He had been struck by a grey motor vehicle, which did not

stop, and the driver fled the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the grey vehicle was traveling eastbound in the left lane of Yorktown, and after crossing Newland, struck the man crossing northbound on Yorktown outside of an intersection or marked crosswalk.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is encouraged to contact HBPD Traffic Investigator J. Rounds at (714) 536-5666 or Investigator V. Rattanchandini at (714) 5365231.

n GARDEN GROVE SCHOOL BOARD

Fees and salaries are raised

By Tatum Foulger/Orange County Tribune

Money was on the minds – and agenda – of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education when it met on Tuesday.

The board took up the matters of development fees and wages and salaries. A public hearing on a proposal to raise developer fees took place and approved raising fees for residential development from $4.08 to $4.79 per square foot, for new residential construction, and commercial/industrial development from $0.66 to $0.78 per square foot.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board discussed and took action on salary increases for GGUSD management employees and board of education members alike.

The board approved a 4.2 percent salary increase on the 202021 base pay for management employees, including assistant superintendents and the superintendent as well as board members, effective April 19.

The next board meeting is set for Tuesday, May 3.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 5

Arts&Living

WAVE A WAND AND GET MOVIE HITS? It’s a whole international process improving the reach of the “Harry Potter” entertainment empire

The marketing magic of “Wizarding” It’s international box office that levitates these films

By Lindsay Bahr AP Film Writer

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’’ got off to a less than magical start in its first weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters. The third installment in the Harry Potter spinoff opened to $43 million in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It was enough to secure the film the top spot on the box office charts, but it’s also a low for the franchise. The first film had a $74.4 million debut in 2016 and the second, “The

Crimes of Grindelwald’’ opened to $62.2 million in 2018. “The Secrets of Dumbledore,’’ which Warner Bros. released in 4,208 locations in North America, also carries a $200 million production price tag.

It’s more common than not for sequels and threequels to come in lower than their predecessors, but ``Dumbledore’’ also follows several franchise titles that defied that logic, including “Spider-Man: No Way Home,’’ “Venom 2’’ and ``Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’’

Critics were largely not on board with “Dumbledore.’’ With a 49 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, most came in on the negative side. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that “the purpose of these movies has never felt like much beyond keeping the Potter train

running’’ and that this iteration is “a bit of a bore.’’ Audiences, which were 56 percent female, were a little kinder, giving it four stars on PostTrak and an overall B+ CinemaScore.

The eight Harry Potter films were responsible for over $7.7 billion in box office, while the first two “Fantastic Beasts’’ films made $1.5 billion total.

This installment stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller and Mads Mikkelsen, who replaced Johnny Depp as Grindelwald. In November 2020, following Depp’s failed libel case against The Sun tabloid newspaper for an article that labeled him a “wife beater,’’ the actor said Warner Bros. asked him to step down and that he agreed.

As with previous “Fantastic Beasts’’ films, however,

“Dumbledore’’ has more hope internationally. Its grosses are $193 million worldwide. Both of the previous films made over 70 percent of their global totals from international showings.

“Recapturing the original ` ‘Harry Potter’ magic that began some 20 years ago in cinemas is a tall order,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. ` “The `Fantastic Beasts’ franchise, while seeing diminishing returns with each successive installment, still has enough of a devoted fanbase to conjure up respectable numbers particularly with international audiences which have always provided the lion’s share of the box office for these films.’’

Dergarabedian added that the true test for ``Dumbledore’’ will Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Harry Potter’s magic travels well overseas Continued from page 5

be the second weekend.

Also, as Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. head of domestic distribution, pointed out, the films are just one part of the Wizarding World.

“It’s part of a bigger strategy for the Wizarding World, a bigger business that includes

theme parks and stores and merchandising. It’s all about the totality of these pieces and not any one on their own,’’ Goldstein said. “There’s still a lot of public interest and a lot of fan interest.`` Plus, Warner Bros. is celebrating a big milestone for another film: “The Batman’’ crossed $750 million globally

this weekend.

“It’s an enormous achievement,’’ Goldstein said.

In its second weekend, ``Sonic the Hedgehog 2’’ fell 58 percent and earned an estimated $30 million to take second place, according to Paramount. The film has grossed $119.6 million to date. Third place also went to Paramount with the actionadventure ``The Lost City,’’ starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum.

Sony also released ``Father Stu’’ in 2,705 locations on Wednesday. Starring Mark Wahlberg, who helped finance the film, “Father Stu’’ is based on a true story and is a rare mainstream Hollywood movie with religious themes.

It earned an estimated $8 million in its first five days in theaters and $5.7 million over the weekend.

“Father Stu’’ came in fifth place behind “Everything Everywhere All At Once,’’ A24’s stealth hit

that just keeps getting bigger.

This weekend the buzzy interdimensional film starring Michelle Yeoh played on 2,220 screens – its widest release yet – and earned an additional $6.2 million. Its overall gross is sitting at $17.7 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,’’ $43 million.

2. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,’’ $30 million.

3. “The Lost City,’’ $6.5 million.

4. “Everything Everywhere All At Once,’’ $6.2 million.

5. “Father Stu,’’ $5.7 million.

6. “Morbius,’’ $4.7 million.

7. “Ambulance,’’ $4 million.

8. “The Batman,’’ $3.8 million.

9. “K.G.F.: Chapter 2,’’ $2.9 million.

10. “Uncharted,’’ $1.2 million.

Tuesday prep scores Continued from page 8

the Golden West League by slipping past Katella 1-0.

Softball games on Tuesday saw Rancho Alamitos defeat La Quinta 11-5 in the Garden Grove League. Huntington Beach edged Marina 1-0 and Southlands Christian beat Orangewood Academy 11-8 in San Joaquin League play.

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Can the USFL make it this time?

Continued from page 8

competition for viewers will be the NBA and NHL playoffs through the end of May. The XFL averaged 1.5 million viewers on Fox and ABC during its final week of games while AAF ratings for games on NFL Network were similar to preseason NFL games.

The other difference is that the season will take place in two cities. The regular season will occur in Birmingham, with the playoffs slated for the

Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

“It’s beneficial for us to get on solid financial footing and then year two start to kind of dial it in. Our goal is year two. Nobody’s done that in a while,’’ said former Dallas Cowboys standout and Fox NFL commentator Daryl Johnston, the USFL’s executive vice president of football operations.

Johnston also had front-office roles in the XFL and AAF. Brian Woods, the founder The Spring League, is the USFL’s president of football operations, while Fox NFL and college football rules analyst Mike Pereira will act as the head of officiating.

The eight teams will play a 10-game schedule during the regular season, with the top two in the North and South divisions advancing to the playoffs. The

championship game will be a matchup of division winners.

Among other things to watch with the new league: CLOSER TO THE GAME Fox and NBC will use drones in football game coverage for the first time. During last week’s scrimmages, the drone followed a player through the hole during one play to show his running path.

Two players from each team will also have cameras in their helmets. During the scrimmages, the helmet cams captured a player blocking a punt and a defensive back intercepting a pass in the end zone.

Telecasts will also have access to all the audio feeds of coaches and 32 players on both teams wearing mics.

Angels, Dodgers in 1st, again Continued from page 8

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday at home, snapping a seven-game winning streak.

The Blue Crew has managed only two hits off Braves’ starter Max Fried in seven innings pitched. He struck out eight batters and walked none.

Walker Buehler worked five innings for the home team, yielding eight hits and three earned runs. He struck out three batters and walked one The loss put the Dodgers record at 8-3 and tied for first

place in the National League West with the Colorado Rockies.

Ducks lose 2-1 to Kings

The Los Angeles Kings, needing a win to protect their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, defeated the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 Tuesday night at Honda Center.

Philip Ganault and Adrian Kempe each scored for the Kings (now 40-27-10). For the Ducks (30-33-14), Adam Henrique scored on a power play.

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TheSportsPage

SportsWeek

Again, it’s Angels and Dodgers 1st The Los Angeles Angels are back in first place after a 7-2 win over the Astros in Texas on Tuesday night.

Now 7-5 in the American League West – a half-game ahead of the Astros (6-5) – the Halos exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning.

The Angels had 13 hits in the game, including three by Jo Adell and two each by Taylor Ward, Anthony Rendon and Jack Mayfield. Kurt Suzuki drove in three runs.

Starter Patrick Sandoval worked four shutout innings, giving up four hits and no runs. He struck out five batters and walked none. The win went to Oliver Ortega (1-1) who followed with two shutout innings.

The series will conclude on Wednesday with Shohei Ohtani (0-2) slated to make the start.

Continued on page 7

Oilers post 3-2 Boras victory Huntington Beach High’s baseball team opened play in the Boras Classic South on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Yucaipa.

The Oilers are now 17-9 overall.

In Sunset League baseball action, Los Alamitos defeated Edison 2-0. In the Garden Grove League, Los Amigos edged La Quinta 3-2. Orange defeated Costa Mesa 6-1 in Orange Coast League play and Ocean View remained unbeaten in Continued on page 6

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS ATTEMPT? Can this second version of the USFL succeed where others have failed? (USFL graphic)

Just Another Spring Dream?

This United States Football League has some differences

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

NBC Sports president Jon Miller knows the perils of starting a spring football league.

He was with NBC when the network teamed with Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment during the XFL’s first launch in 2001 and has seen other leagues crash and burn.

Miller is optimistic that a new version of the USFL could have some staying power.

“Hopefully, the fifth time is a charm. I think the timing is right, the partnership is right, and the model is bred for success,’’ Miller said. ``We’re optimistic, hopeful, and excited at the same time.’’

The USFL kicked off Saturday night in Birmingham, Alabama, when the New Jersey Generals faced the Birmingham Stallions.

Fox and NBC Sports will each carry 22 games, including Saturday’s opener. It is the first time since the 2007 regular-

season finale between the New England Patriots and New York Giants that a game will air on multiple broadcast networks.

Fox Sports owns the USFL and is making a $150 million investment over three years.

The only similarity between the USFL of 1983-85 and this one is the team names.

Fox Sports executive v i c e president Michael Mulvihill thinks the XFL would have made it if it wasn’t for the coronavirus pandemic. The league suspended operations in April 2020 during the pandemic.

It played five weeks before COVID-19 halted sports a month earlier.

In 2019, the Alliance of American Football shut down after eight weeks after running out of money.

“I think the viewership figures for spring football are good enough to give us a high level of confidence that the interest among fans is there,’’ Mulvihill said. “It just becomes a matter of can we develop a business model that’s more effective than the leagues that have tried and haven’t succeeded.

Because we’re structured the way we are, we have a pretty good chance of doing just that.’’

There are two significant differences with this version of the USFL as it kicks off. It has waited until April to begin the season. The XFL and AAF immediately started their seasons after the Super Bowl and eventually had to go against the NCAA basketball tournament and the Masters.

The USFL’s most significant Continued on page 7