Two of the four men arrested in connection with the killing of “General Hospital” star Johnny Wactor have been formally charged with murder.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges on Monday, August 19.
While all four men face multiple felonies related to Wactor’s death, only two have been charged with murder.
Eighteen-year-olds Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada are both charged with Wactor’s murder. Barceleau faces an additional special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted robbery, which could result in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He is also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, both while armed with a gun.
Estrada is charged with murder, as well as attempted robbery and grand theft while armed with a gun, though his murder charge does not include the special circumstance allegation.
Nineteen-year-old Leonel Gutierrez faces charges of attempted robbery and grand theft, both while armed with a gun.
The fourth suspect, 22-year-old Frank Olano, is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, receiving stolen property, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The arrests and search warrants were executed early on Thursday, August 15.
Johnny Wactor was shot and killed in May after he discovered a group of people trying to steal his catalytic converter from his car. Prosecutors allege that Barceleau shot him in the chest.
While the murder charges mark significant progress in the case, Johnny’s coworker has noted that the actor’s family will not find peace until convictions are secured.
