OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
4:07 PM – Wednesday, October 25, 2023
A 22-year-old former baseball star has been charged with four counts of murder and four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter after purportedly crashing into four Pepperdine University sorority sisters.
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On October 17th around 8:30 p.m., Fraser Michael Bohm drove his BMW on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, when he crashed into four young women who were students at Pepperdine University.
Bohm was speeding at 104-mph in a 45-mph zone on the area of the freeway known as “Dead Man’s Curve” due to the large number of fatal accidents that have occurred there.
Bohm plowed into three parked cars and then allegedly crashed into the four young women near a fraternity house that sits near the highway.
The females were all sorority members and in the Alpha Phi sorority at Pepperdine University. University officials identified that they were college seniors and that their names were Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams.
Two of the deceased victims, Rolston, 20, and Stewart, 21, were business majors at the university. Weir, 21, was studying for a degree in English. It is not clear what Williams, 21, was studying at the school.
According to witnesses who were at the scene, Bohm was unharmed after the accident and tried to flee the scene until onlookers captured him.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson also mentioned that a DUI investigation is currently being conducted.
Officials say that there was a Pepperdine University fraternity party taking place in the area where the accident occurred, and the female victims had been planning to meet up with friends at the time of the tragedy.
Bohm, who is said to be a former “baseball star,” was originally arrested when the tragedy occurred and was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter. However, he was released shortly after due to officials having insufficient evidence to create a proper criminal filing.
The sheriff’s department has now been in the process of gathering evidence, including toxicology, speed analysis, and execution of search warrants to conduct the case.
“Bohm was subsequently released to allow detectives time to gather the evidence needed to secure the strongest criminal filing and conviction,” the sheriff’s department announced.
However, on Tuesday, Bohm was re-arrested after the sheriff’s department stated that they diligently worked together to collect enough evidence to file the maximum charges allowed under California law. Deputies placed Bohm in custody and have charged him with four counts of murder.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old made an appearance in court, in which he pleaded “not guilty” to murder and any additional charges were placed on him during the hearing.
District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges on Wednesday, explaining that the investigation disclosed how Bohm “knew his actions were dangerous to human life and deliberately acted with conscious disregard for human life.”
“Collectively, as a community, we need to think about driving and safety,” Gascón added while announcing the charges.
Additionally, in an interview with detectives after the accident took place, Bohm allegedly confessed that he may have been texting and driving when he crashed. Bohm’s bail is set at $8 million and his next scheduled court date will take place on November 1st.
“The Sheriff’s Department is relentlessly working to ensure we get justice for the victims’ families,” the sheriff’s department stated.
Bohm currently lives with his mom in a $8.7 million Malibu property that has extensive views of the Pacific Ocean.
His 2016 BMW was a gift from his parents for his 18th birthday, in which his mom made a $25,000 down payment for the car. The remaining payments were to be paid off by his dad.
The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is requesting anyone with information to contact the Traffic Investigations Office at 818-878-1808. Tips can also be provided anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
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