> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Judge: Evidence exists to try ex-con for murder - URL: https://www.smdp.com/judge-evidence-exists-to-try-ex-con-for-murder/ - Published: 2003-06-27T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T02:25:42.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import *DA’s case against Paleologus is ‘ridiculous,’ defense lawyer says* The ex-convict accused of allegedly killing a Santa Monica woman will stand trial for capital murder charges, a judge ruled Thursday. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office wrapped up its case against Victor Paleologus on Thursday during the second day of his preliminary trial, which allows the state to show it has enough evidence to argue the charges in front of a jury. Paleologus, 40, could face the death penalty for allegedly killing 21-year-old Kristi Johnson. He allegedly lured her by posing as a publicity photographer and telling her she had a good chance of becoming the next James Bond girl in an upcoming film. Johnson disappeared Feb. 15 after telling her roommates she was going to a photo shoot in Beverly Hills. She was found dead March 3 at the bottom of a ravine in Laurel Canyon, a remote neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. Her ankles were bound and she was covered with a sleeping bag. An autopsy on Johnson’s body revealed that she was sexually assaulted and died of strangulation, as well as being the victim of blunt-force trauma and other contusions, said Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Eleanor Hunter. Six Santa Monica Police officers and three officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department testified against Paleologus during the trial. They laid out evidence that the prosecution says links him to the events leading up to Johnson’s disappearance. The evidence also was meant to establish a pattern by Paleologus in which he lured at least seven other women by posing as a photographer for a James Bond movie or as a industry executive. In most cases, Paleologus asked the women to show up to the photo shoots wearing provocative clothing, including black high-heel stiletto pump shoes, a short black mini-skirt and nylons, according to testimony. Those items of clothing are consistent with at least some of those Johnson was wearing when she was found dead. She also tried on the clothing at her 29th Street apartment for her roommate shortly before going to meet Paleologus on Feb. 15, SMPD Detective John Henry testified. Henry also testified that Johnson’s roommate said she had trouble walking in the six-inch high heels she had just purchased that day at the Century City Mall, where she reportedly had met Paleologus earlier. Based on interviews with the roommate, Henry testified that Johnson was apprehensive about meeting Paleologus but very excited about the prospect of being the next James Bond girl. Two days after Johnson’s disappearance, Paleologus was arrested for allegedly stealing a BMW X-5 series from a Beverly Hills dealership under a stolen identity. He was taken to Los Angeles Men’s Jail at the Twin Towers facility, where he was held with no bail because of a parole violation. He had been released from state prison Jan. 20 after serving time for unrelated felony. SMPD Sgt. Michael Cabrera testified that when he went to pick Paleologus up for questioning on Feb. 28 regarding Johnson’s disappearance, jail personnel couldn’t find him. The entire jail was put into lockdown mode while prison officials searched for him. Paleologus was eventually found in the jail’s kitchen — where he had no permission to be. Cabrera testified that he interviewed two inmates who load garbage into the trash compactor near the kitchen who said Paleologus offered them $5,000 to help him escape. Paleologus told his fellow inmates he was facing a life/death sentence, Cabrera testified. Both inmates described Paleologus as a “crazy” man who looked nervous and scared, Cabrera testified. When Paleologus was transported to SMPD headquarters, Cabrera said he removed two paperback books from Paleologus’ back pocket. Inside one of them was a folded up piece of toilet paper containing a one-inch long razor blade, leading officers to believe Paleologus would use it as a weapon. Paleologus’ attorney, Andrew Flier, who spent much of the trial attempting to poke holes in the officers’ testimony, suggested that the razor blade could have been used for clipping fingernails or as an eating utensil. Flier said Paleologus is innocent and is being targeted because of his criminal past. Paleologus has been convicted of six felonies since 1998 ranging from grand theft to burglary to assault. Paleologus received three years probation after a jury deadlocked on charges against him in 1991 for attempted rape, assault and false imprisonment. In that case, 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. In his closing arguments, Flier said the prosecution failed “miserably” and offered a “ridiculous” case in seeking the capital murder charge. “Unless I’ve been sleeping for the past two days, I have not heard one cent of evidence that Mr. Paleologus was lying in wait,” Flier said, adding his client would have had to have waited and watched for an opportune time to ambush Johnson. Deputy DA Hunter disagreed and said the evidence shows Paleologus’ pattern of picking up women at shopping malls by saying he is a movie producer or photographer. “He lures these poor women and acts out his fantasy,” she said. Detective Henry also offered testimony that placed Paleologus at an International House of Pancakes in West Hollywood just hours after he allegedly killed Johnson. After retrieving Paleologus’ cell phone from the L.A. County Jail, he found the name and number of an acquaintance Paleologus had met on Jan. 24\. After interviewing the man, Henry learned that the two men met at the restaurant shortly after midnight on Feb. 16\. The man told police that when Paleologus showed up, he noticed a 1 1/2 inch scratch above his right eye, Henry testified. Two days later, Paleologus was arrested by Beverly Hills police after he allegedly stole the BMW off the car dealership lot. He ran from police after driving to the Beverly Center parking garage. There, he got out of the car and ran down Third Street and into the kitchen of sushi restaurant, where he was apprehended, police testified. Paleologus was found with three different forms of identification — two driver’s licenses and a visa card belonging to other men, and financial information belonging to the man Paleologus allegedly tried to purchase the BMW with. The man whose driver’s license and credit card Paleologus told police he had last seen it in the gym locker of the Century Plaza Hotel, where the St. Regis Hotel is and located within minutes of the Century City Mall. Johnson’s car was valet parked at the St. Regis Hotel on Feb. 16 but wasn’t found for more than a week. A real estate agent, who told police he had shown Paleologus at least 10 vacant homes in the Hollywood Hills area the week before Johnson disappeared, said he picked Paleologus up each time at the Century Plaza Hotel. One of the homes, just blocks from where Johnson’s body was found, was toured by Paleologus and belongs to Robert Wasvary — the man whose identity Paleologus attempted to buy the BMW with. Police believe a vacant home located at 8583 Skyline Drive, another property Paleologus toured, may have been where he took Johnson before he allegedly raped and killed her. It was most recently occupied by actor Laurence Fishburne and is located several hundred feet from where Johnson’s body was found. Paleologus will be arraigned on July 10 on the capital murder charge, as well as 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. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062703.pdf?ref=smdp.com)