Daniel Wozniak (murderer) explained

Daniel Wozniak
Birth Name:Daniel Patrick Wozniak
Birth Date:23 March 1984
Birth Place:Long Beach, California, U.S.
Conviction:First-degree murder (2 counts)
Sentence:Death (September 23, 2016)
Apprehended:May 26, 2010
Victims:2
Date:May 21, 2010
Country:United States
States:California
Imprisoned:California Medical Facility

Daniel Patrick Wozniak (born March 23, 1984) is a former American community theatre actor who was convicted of two counts of murder in September 2016. In May 2010, Wozniak killed his neighbor and friend, Private First Class Samuel Eliezer "Sam" Herr, and Herr's friend, Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, as part of a plan to frame Herr for Kibuishi's murder and steal his combat pay. Wozniak was deeply in debt and wanted money to finance his upcoming wedding and honeymoon.[1] Wozniak and his then-fiancée, Rachel Mae Buffett, lived in the same apartment complex as Herr in Costa Mesa, California.

After more than five years of court proceedings, Wozniak went to trial and was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder.[2] He was found guilty and sentenced to death in September 2016.[3] He was incarcerated at California's San Quentin State Prison until July 2021, when he was moved to Salinas Valley State Prison as part of the Condemned Inmate Transfer Pilot Program.

Crimes and cover-up

On May 21, 2010, Wozniak shot and killed his neighbor, Private First Class Samuel "Sam" Herr, a 26-year-old Afghanistan War veteran, at a Los Alamitos theater.[4] At the time of the murders, Wozniak was deeply in debt and unemployed but planning a lavish wedding and honeymoon. After Herr told him that he had savings of about $62,000 from combat pay, Wozniak decided to kill him in order to acquirethe money.[5]

In an effort to misdirect police and cast blame upon Herr, Wozniak then used Herr's cell phone to text Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, a 23-year-old college student who had been tutoring Herr at Orange Coast College. Wozniak lured Kibuishi to Herr's apartment, where he shot and killed her. Wozniak then staged the crime scene to make it appear as though Kibuishi had been sexually assaulted, suggesting that Herr had committed her assault and subsequent murder and then gone on the run. The same evening, Wozniak went on to perform in his local theatre production of the musical Nine. Afterwards, Wozniak dismembered Herr’s body by removing his limbs and head, leaving the torso in the attic of the theater.[6]

An extensive manhunt for Herr was launched by authorities who at that point still believed Herr was responsible for Kibuishi's murder and was on the run. Wozniak came under suspicion after he instructed a sixteen-year-old, Wesley Freilich, to withdraw money from Herr's accounts. When the police confronted the boy, they were told by the boy that Wozniak had asked him to withdraw the money for him.[7]

Soon after, Wozniak was apprehended by US Marshals while at his bachelor party two days before his wedding.[8] [9]

After repeatedly lying to police, Wozniak finally confessed. Wozniak led authorities to the area where almost all of Herr's dismembered body was found discarded at El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. After more than five years of court proceedings, Wozniak went to trial and was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death in September 2016 before California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on capital punishment in the state.

In November 2012, Wozniak's then-fiancée, Rachel Mae Buffett, was arrested[10] and charged with three felony counts of accessory-after-the-fact based on allegations that she had lied multiple times to police investigators.[11]

On September 12, 2018, Buffett was convicted on two of those counts with a maximum possible sentence of 44 months and, on November 8, 2018, was sentenced to 32 months minus time served and good behavior. She was released from jail sometime in 2019.[12] [13]

In popular culture

The case has been covered by numerous crime and news programs in the United States, including:

Additional pop culture references:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Associated Press . Actor decapitated neighbor, performed in musical soon after . nypost.com . 17 December 2015 . NYP HOLDINGS, INC. . July 6, 2019.
  2. News: Berg. Tom. Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of Daniel Wozniak, accused of killing 2, beheading one victim. October 16, 2017. Orange County Register. Southern California News Group. December 7, 2015.
  3. News: Andrews. Travis M.. Community theater actor sentenced to death for killing, dismembering Afghanistan vet to pay for wedding. October 16, 2017. Washington Post. September 26, 2016.
  4. News: Dobruck. Jeremiah. Father describes horror of his dismembered son's murder. October 16, 2017. Los Angeles Times. January 4, 2016.
  5. News: Katz. Michele. Actor decapitates Army combat vet and kills vet's girlfriend. October 16, 2017. Military News. Bright Mountain Media, Inc.. December 18, 2015.
  6. Web site: August 28, 2018 . Christine . Pelisek . After Local Theater Star Commits Grisly Double Murder for Cash, a Two-Year Quest for the Truth . 2022-05-22 . people.com . en.
  7. Web site: - YouTube . . October 22, 2022.
  8. Web site: Daniel Wozniak Murders: Killer Had a Larger-Than-Life Personality, Friends Say . Christine Pelisek . People. March 13, 2015.
  9. News: Ex-actor Daniel Wozniak sentenced to death in double murder and grisly cover-up . Hannah Fry . Los Angeles Times . September 23, 2016.
  10. News: Emery. Sean. Actor's ex-fiancée arrested in killings, dismemberment. February 2, 2018. Staff. The Orange County Register. November 22, 2012.
  11. News: Coker. Matt. Brother of Death Row Double Murderer Dan Wozniak Held for Domestic Violence. October 16, 2017. OC Weekly. December 23, 2016.
  12. News: Ex-Disney Princess Lied to Police Hoping to Help Actor Fiancé Get Away with Double-Murder. PEOPLE.com. 2018-09-16. en.
  13. Web site: Sclafani . Julia . Ex-fiancée of Orange County killer Wozniak is sentenced as accessory . . November 9, 2018 . July 6, 2019.
  14. News: Puente. Kelly. Trial date set for convicted killer Daniel Wozniak's ex-fiancee Rachel Buffett – Orange County Register. May 12, 2017. Southern California News Group. March 17, 2017. Santa Ana, California.
  15. Web site: Actress Accused: Was She an Accessory to Murder? Dr. Phil. drphil.com. CBS Broadcasting. May 12, 2017. February 5, 2013.
  16. Web site: Dr. Phil Actress Accused: Was She an Accessory to Murder?. TVGuide.com. May 12, 2017. en. February 5, 2013.
  17. Web site: Lockup: Orange County---Extended Stay. TVGuide.com. CBS Interactive Inc.. February 2, 2018. en. March 26, 2011.
  18. News: Austin. Paige. Controversial Show Starring Accused Los Alamitos Killer to Air. February 2, 2018. Los Alamitos-Seal Beach, CA Patch. Patch Media. September 2, 2011. en.
  19. Web site: NBC Dateline FULL EPISODE: Plot Twist. NBC News. May 12, 2017. en. January 15, 2016.
  20. News: Reyes. Traciy. Daniel Wozniak, Rachel Buffett: 'Dateline' NBC Follows Plot Twists Of Actor In Bizarre Costa Mesa, California Murder Case. October 16, 2017. The Inquisitr. January 16, 2016.
  21. Web site: Dateline: Secrets Uncovered season 7 episode 10 ("Plot Twist") . simkl.com . Simkl TV Tracker /simkl.org . July 6, 2019.
  22. Web site: 20/20: 'Mystery in Apartment 410' Watch Full Episode. ABC. October 16, 2017. March 4, 2016.
  23. News: Daniel Wozniak case: Full story of California double murder investigated on '20/20′. The Mercury News. August 19, 2016.
  24. News: LaLama. Pat. Community actor kills veteran, student for money to bankroll honeymoon. October 16, 2017. Crime Watch Daily. Telepictures Productions Inc.. June 8, 2016. en.
  25. Web site: The Perfect Murder Watch Full Episodes & More! - Investigation Discovery. www.investigationdiscovery.com. May 12, 2017. en-us. August 24, 2016.
  26. News: Reyes. Traciy. Sam Herr, Juri 'Julie' Kibuishi: 'The Perfect Murder' On Investigation Discovery — Afghanistan War Vet, California Tutor Killed By Actor In Plot To Have Lavish Wedding. October 16, 2017. The Inquisitr. August 24, 2016.
  27. News: 48 Hours Killer Performance. May 12, 2017. CBS Interactive Inc.. October 9, 2016. en.
  28. Web site: 48 Hours-Killer Performance - Video Dailymotion. Dailymotion. October 16, 2017. June 23, 2017.
  29. Web site: Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent Watch Full Episodes & More! - Investigation Discovery. November 2, 2017. en-us. November 1, 2017.
  30. Web site: 93 - Live At The Grove In Anaheim My Favorite Murder With Karen Kilgariff And Georgia Hardstark podcast. player.fm. 2 November 2017 . en. 2019-02-18.
  31. Web site: 20/20: 'The Final Act' Watch Full Episode. ABC. October 22, 2022. May 31, 2019.

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