Suspect Detained in Orange County, Calif., Homeless Murders

Authorities in Orange County, Calif., have been scrambling for a month over the death of homeless people. They now believe that they have the right man in custody after making an arrest following a fourth murder.

"We are extremely confident that we have the man that is responsible for the murders of all four homeless men in Orange County," said John Welter, Anaheim Police Chief. "We plan to request from the district attorney that he be charged with four counts of murder."

23-year-old Itzcoatl Ocampo is the man that police have in custody. He was arrested on Friday night after a fourth homeless man was found murdered in a Carl's Jr. restaurant parking lot. Ocampo was chased down by bystanders and witnesses and a police officer captured him.

Friends and family of Ocampo state that he has not been the same since he returned from Iraq in 2010. He is a former United States Marine.

Ocampo's father, Refugio Ocampo, is actually homeless. He lost his home in 2008 and has been without permanent shelter ever since. He said that his son actually warned him to be careful due to the killings. "I told him, 'You don't have to worry about me mijo . I am a survivor'," Ocampo's father states he told his son.

All four of the homeless that were victims in this serial killing were all killed violently. They were all stabbed multiple times.

"At least 121 Iraq or Afghanistan war veterans killed someone or were charged with homicide after returning home between 2001 and 2007. About three-quarters were still in the military when the crimes occurred," reports FOX 11 News.

Ocampo's father states that his son was in counseling and that he had attended it with him. However, it just did not seem to do anything good for him.

Ocampo's arrest news is spreading around the general community and the homeless community with cautious optimism. "It was the topic of a lot of conversation tonight, and everybody was really excited, just really happy and relieved," said Mercy House Shelter executive director Larry Haynes. "But until there is a conviction and we know for absolute certainty, we're hoping that people will try to stay safe."