Carolyn Oppy Stahl, 44, an optometrist from Orange, California, was murdered on November 20, 1999. Carolyn and her husband, Kenneth Stahl, were found in their car on the shoulder of Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano after celebrating Carolyn’s birthday. A security guard discovered the running vehicle with its headlights on and called police. Responding officers found both Kenneth and Carolyn slumped over each other, each shot multiple times; investigators reported at least ten gunshot wounds inflicted by a handgun.

Robbery was ruled out because valuables, including watches, a wallet, and a purse, remained in the car. Investigators uncovered Kenneth’s long affair with Adriana Vasco, a medical secretary, through phone records. Vasco later implicated herself, saying Kenneth conspired to have Carolyn killed and offered $30,000 to Adriana’s boyfriend, Dennis Godley, to carry out the murder. Prosecutors charged Vasco and Godley; both were convicted for their roles in the plot.