See Update No. 2 at the bottom of Page 2 on the sheriff's department stressing San Juan Capistrano is safe. Update No. 1 had deputies confirming the victims' I.D.s.
ORIGINAL POST, FEB. 10, 9:48 A.M.: Orange County sheriff's homicide investigators this morning are probing a double homicide in an upscale San Juan Capistrano neighborhood.
An “unknown trouble” call to dispatchers shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday led to a hillside home in the 32000 block of Peppertree Bend and the discovery of two bodies. Neighbors identified them as Brad and Andra Sachs, a divorced couple who still resided together in the home.
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The couple's 8-year-old son was taken to Mission Hospital from the 9,600-square-foot home for treatment of serious injuries but is expected to survive, according to sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock, the department spokesman.
It is believed the violence was confined to the home and nearby residents are not in danger, although authorities add this does not appear to be a murder-suicide. A security code is needed to enter the Sachs' home, but there was no sign of forced entry. The cause of death has not yet been released.
The couple's high school-age teen daughters were home when first responders arrived, but they were unharmed and one of them may have placed the initial 9-1-1 call. The couple, described as being in their 50s, also had two sons away at college.
Crime-scene investigators finished their work around 3 a.m. today, Orange County
Sheriff's Lt. Steve Gil, a watch commander, told City News Service.
A neighbor who described herself as one victim's best friend told a KCBS/Channel 2 news reporter the Sachs were a loving couple and she can't imagine anyone who would want to do them harm. But some tenants who rented space from the couple in a commercial business building nearby suggested they were very much disliked, according to the KCBS report.
Ken Baum, who has rented office space at one of the properties the Sachs own for the past two years, elaborated for KABC/Channel 7. Report on the next page:
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“Shocked, my stomach sank,” Baum said of hearing the couple had been slain, “and then I thought, 'I'm not surprised.'” He said things went sour for him as soon as he signed the contract to become a tenant of the Sachs.
“Shady, underhanded, we don't like it, move, sue me, we don't care,” Baum said. “And they also told us as soon we moved in, don't tell anybody we were here, don't tell anybody you know us, don't tell them our name, don't tell them this is our business next door to you, we don't want to be known.”
Fausto Polanco, who described himself at the time as the command master chief of the I Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, posted a Ripoff Report Dec. 10, 2012, that described a residential property rental dispute he had with his landlord, Andra Sachs. He claimed at the time to have a $7,873.88 court judgment against Sachs “(a.k.a. Queen Andra, Queen of the Jungle, Queen of Green, Lanaland, LLC, and Lanalandon, LLC)” but did not get paid.
Several left comments backing up Polanco, including someone who claimed to have worked for Sachs as a live-in caregiver.
UPDATE NO. 1, FEB. 10, 4:31 P.M.: The Orange County Sheriff's Department has officially identified the murdered couple as Bradford Hans Sachs, 57, and Andra Resa Sachs, 54, of San Juan Capistrano.
The 8-year-old boy who was also found inside the residence with serious injuries remains at a local hospital, according to sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock.
“Based on the preliminary information, it appears Bradford and Andra were divorced but were residing together at the time of their death,” Hallock confirmed. “Homicide investigators have not identified a suspect at this stage of the investigation but continue to explore all possibilities.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714.647.7044. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.847.6227 or by visiting occrimestoppers.org.
UPDATE NO. 2, FEB. 12, 5:13 P.M.: The Orange County Sheriff's Department issued a statement this afternoon that essentially makes the point San Juan Capistrano is a safe community, especially the upscale neighborhood where Bradford and Andra Sachs were shot dead and an 8-year-old boy suffered serious gunshot wounds. He remains
hospitalized and is being treated for paralysis, according to sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock.
Key points of the statement:
* There are no signs anyone forced themselves into the home nor that the violence extended beyond that property.
* Sheriff's investigators are looking into the couple's business dealings which, as we've reported, made them many enemies.
* No suspect has been identified.
* The community is not at risk but should take normal precautions.
Here is the full statement:
San Juan Capistrano Homicide Investigation – UPDATE
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – (February 12, 2014) – On Sunday, February 9, 2014, Orange County Sheriff's Department homicide investigators began investigating the deaths of Bradford Sachs, 57 and Andra Sachs, 54. Both victims died of injuries resulting from gunshot wounds as later confirmed by autopsy. An 8 year old male, juvenile inside the residence was also injured as a result of a gunshot wound and remains hospitalized.
The investigation remains ongoing but the preliminary information indicates there was no forced entry into the residence and the incident appears isolated to the residence at 32271 Peppertree Bend. Investigators continue to explore all possible motives, to include the Sachs' current and past business relationships. This complex investigation continues to move forward but investigators are yet to determine whether or not the Sachs were targeted victims. Investigators have not identified a suspect but continue to evaluate all the evidence and information in the case.
The Sheriff's Department continues to maintain that the city of San Juan Capistrano is a safe community. There has been no information learned by investigators in this case to indicate the community is at risk. As is always the case, the Sheriff's Department reminds citizens to be vigilant and attentive to taking all precautions against crime and encourages anyone who sees something suspicious to call 911.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7044. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.
Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.