Laguna Beach murder investigation of Damon L. Nicholson continues with more leads and reward
Laguna Beach murder investigation of Damon L. Nicholson continues with more leads and reward
Laguna Beach – The murder investigation of Damon L. Nicholson continues. More leads and the reward are the latest developments.
When Nicholson did not show up for work at the Hotel Laguna on Oct. 23, a female co-worker went to the 41-year-old’s duplex in the 200 block of Dolphin Way. When no one answered the door, the co-worker entered through an open sliding glass door and discovered the gruesome, bludgeoned and bloody body sprawled out on the sofa. Police indicated that there were no signs of forced entry, leading investigators to conclude that the victim may have invited the killer or killers inside or the killer was someone he knew well. Police do not believe this was a random murder.
Investigators methodically examined the crime scene and forensic evidence was obtained. Police say Nicholson, who lived alone, was hit several times in his torso and head with a heavy blunt object, and that no murder weapon was found at the home. They believe he was beaten to death sometime between the evening of Oct. 22, a Thursday, and Friday morning of the 23rd.
Laguna Beach Homicide Detectives immediately began conducting a routine background check of Nicholson and many of his friends and co-workers. Police also have interviewed friends, co-workers and neighbors of the deceased in an effort to establish motives for the killing and in the hopes of obtaining more important information about the murder.
Cohorts have told investigators that Nicholson was very active in gay relationships and may have been lured to his apt. by the killer or killers. We have interviewed “many, many people,” in the past two weeks, said Sgt. Louise Callus, including some who were romantically involved with the victim. “He dated a lot,” she said.
Investigators are pursuing the possibility that Nicholson may have invited his assailant into his home, and that assailant he may have met in a gay bar or another place where gay men meet to pick up other men. Nicholson could have become a victim of what has become known as “pickup” murders and due to the violent multiple head and torso wounds indicate the “overkill phenomenon” which may be in play here. The overkill phenomenon is often associated with homophobic murders. In view of this information the key question then is whether this murder is being investigated as an anti-gay hate crime? For if it is the FBI could be brought into the investigation.
President Obama made history recently when he signed into law legislation authorizing the federal government to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of violent hate crimes that target victims because of their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.
The legislation bears the name of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 gruesome murder became one of the nation’s most widely reported hate crimes.
In the Nicholson case new leads are beginning to surface, according to sources the police believe that a lap top and cell phone was taken from the Nicholson home and it is reported that his cell phone was find in a near by dumpster, and is being tested for finger prints and that those phone numbers in the phone and communications are all being run down to see what roll if any they may play in this homicide investigation.
The embezzlement arrest of a Hotel Laguna’s long time employee, also maybe figuring in another tantalizing lead that could be a motive for the killing. It surfaced last Friday in what was claimed an anonymous call to a local news out let. They reported that a female caller suggested revenge was a possible motive in the killing of Nicholson, who had boasted to her about uncovering a 0,000 embezzlement plot at Hotel Laguna last October that led to the arrest and firing of longtime employee Cydney Ann Ruano, 50, of Laguna Niguel. The report indicates that Ruano is scheduled to appear in Newport Beach’s Harbor Justice Center on Nov. 10 for a pre-trial hearing in the theft by embezzlement case. A complaint filed by the district attorney on Aug. 4 says the alleged embezzlement occurred over several years.
The Laguna Journal contacted the DA’s office and asked if Nicholson had been the star witness in the case and the DA’s office refused to confirm one way or the other. Callus discounted the caller’s supposition. “Damon was never interviewed during the embezzlement investigation. His name never was brought up,” she said.
The complaint describes Ruano as a “clerk, agent and servant of Hotel Laguna.”
Proprietor Claes Andersen of Hotel Laguna Friday suddenly offered a ,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer of his catering and events manager of 15 years. Andersen, offered the reward to help identify and convict the killer of Damon