Ex-Marine Accused in Serial Killings to Face Death Penalty

Andrew Uridales will stand trial for the murder of five Southern California women

Orange County prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty against a former Marine and convicted triple murderer charged with five additional Southern California killings including one in San Diego.

Prosecutors believe Andrew Urdiales shot and killed  Maryann Wells, 31, in downtown San Diego in 1988. Wells, a prostitute, was found murdered on Second Avenue.

The 47-year-old defendant will be prosecuted in cases from Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties that stretch from 1986 to 1995. Many of his victims were prostitutes who were repeatedly stabbed or shot.

A former Camp Pendleton-based Marine, Urdiales had already convicted of murdering three Illinois women and was sentenced to death.

However, the state of Illinois banned the death penalty in 2011, reducing the sentences of all men on death row to life without the possibility of parole.

Urdiales was extradited to Orange County earlier this month, where he will face the death penalty.

He is being held without bail and is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 1.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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