Father says death penalty appropriate for alleged killer
A convicted felon accused of killing a 21-year-old Santa Monica woman he allegedly lured with the promise of a photography session was ordered held without bail Wednesday.
Victor Paleologus, 40, was ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Harkavy to remain in jail without bail until his arraignment on May 29. Paleologus was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, but his public defender, Jennifer Friedman, requested the hearing be delayed two weeks.
“I wanted to review the discovery,” said Friedman, who was assigned by the court on Wednesday to defend Paleologus. “(Santa Monica Police) have been investigating for quite some time and I need to review the case.”
Paleologus is charged with killing Kristine Johnson, 21, along with the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and murder during an attempted rape, which could make him eligible for execution.
“We won’t make that determination until after a preliminary trial,” said Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. “It definitely has the potential.”
If convicted, it would be Paleologus’ third strike, making him eligible for life in prison without parole.
Paleologus is expected to plead not guilty at his arraignment, Friedman said.
Paleologus has been in custody since Feb. 17 when he was arrested for stealing a BMW at a Beverly Hills dealership — just two days after he allegedly lured Johnson at a shopping mall by claiming to be a publicity photographer. He then allegedly killed her and dumped her body in Laurel Canyon, a remote neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills.
Paleologus has an extensive criminal rap sheet including luring and victimizing young, attractive women by claiming to be a photographer in the entertainment industry. His criminal history dates back more than a decade and he is described by Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. as a smooth-talking predator.
Paleologus got three years probation after a jury deadlocked on charges against him in 1991 for attempted rape, assault and false imprisonment. He allegedly lured a woman into a hotel room after telling her she would meet famous people, including Madonna, at a party for record executives. Paleologus then allegedly tied the woman to a hotel bed and attempted to rape her but she was able to escape.
Paleologus has been convicted of six felonies since 1998 ranging from grand theft, burglary, assault, fraud, battery and assault with attempt to commit rape. He was released from state prison on Jan. 20, just three weeks before Johnson disappeared.
Johnson was found by hikers on March 3, her body partially clothed, wrists bound and covered in a sleeping bag on a steep hillside off of Skyline Drive, a remote neighborhood in Hollywood Hills.
“What she went through the last hours... I cannot fathom it,” said Johnson’s father, Kirk Johnson, who lives in Michigan.
Johnson, a student at Santa Monica College, disappeared on Feb. 15 after telling her roommates she was going to Beverly Hills to meet a man claiming to be a publicity photographer. She apparently had met Paleologus while shopping at the Century City Mall.
Along with the capital murder charge, the DA’s Office on Monday charged Paleologus with six counts relating to the Beverly Hills case including identity theft, filing a false financial statement, burglary, grand theft auto, forgery and receiving stolen property.
Paleologus allegedly tried to buy a car at Beverly Hills BMW using the name, social security number and credit history of Robert Wasvary, who owns a home on Wonderland Park Avenue in Hollywood Hills — just blocks away from where Johnson’s body was found.
Paleologus allegedly stole Wasvary’s mail containing his credit information from a property he rents out in Hollywood Hills, Wasvary told the Daily Press this week. As Paleologus attempted to complete the transaction at Beverly Hills BMW, dealership sales personnel became suspicious and asked for identification, according to Wasvary, who was informed by police of the incident. Paleologus then fled the sales office and allegedly stole the car off the lot, Wasvary said. Police arrested him a short time later.
Santa Monica Police were able to identify Paleologus as a possible suspect in Johnson’s disappearance more than a week after she vanished based on anonymous tips and evidence gathered from her car. Police also were able to confirm that Paleologus had been at the Century City Mall on the day Johnson disappeared.
Kirk Johnson said he will come to Los Angeles for Paleologus’ preliminary hearing and is ready for his daughter’s alleged killer to face severe consequences — including death.
“I’ve been patient in getting to this point so justice can be done,” he said. “I feel (the charges) are appropriate.”
Kirk Johnson, who said he is still in disbelief that his daughter is dead, said his job now is to help the case against Paleologus be as strong as possible.
“I said I would face this guy and I would be ready,” he said. “I’m angry at the guy. If the DA properly presents this case, I’ll give her all the opportunity to do it.”
“I said I would face this guy and I would be ready. I’m angry at the guy. If the DA properly presents this case, I’ll give her all the opportunity to do it.” — — KIRK JOHNSON Father of Kristine Johnson
Since the day Johnson’s co-workers and mother, Terry Wark, reported her missing on Feb. 17, Santa Monica Police detectives have worked around the clock to solve what was first a missing person case and then a murder investigation.
“The police department are just filled with incredible people,” Kirk Johnson said. “They developed an incredible passion in this case... I’m so impressed with that police department from the chief all the way through the ranks.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.