Two Suspects Charged With Murder of ‘General Hospital’ Actor Johnny Wactor

As a movie enthusiast who has witnessed far too many tragic tales unfold both on and off the screen, I find myself deeply saddened by the senseless loss of Johnny Wactor, a talented actor whose life was cut short due to a heinous crime. The fact that his untimely death was a result of a catalytic converter theft is nothing short of heartbreaking.


In the ongoing probe regarding the demise of “General Hospital” actor, Johnny Wactor, two people are facing charges for murder. Additionally, two other individuals have been taken into custody as part of the investigation on this homicide case.

The district attorney for Los Angeles County, George Gascón, along with interim police chief Dominic Choi, revealed the charges during a press conference at the Los Angeles Hall of Justice on Monday. This announcement was reported by local news channels like Fox LA and CBS News.

The individuals accused of murder are Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, who are both 18 years old. In addition to the murder charge, Barceleau has an additional allegation for a special circumstance – that he committed the murder during a robbery, which could result in a sentence without the possibility of parole for life. Both Barceleau and Estrada have also been charged with attempted robbery, grand theft, and carrying a firearm during these crimes.

Two other individuals are currently detained, each accused of lesser offenses. Eighteen-year-old Leonel Gutierrez has been indicted for attempted robbery and grand theft by embezzlement, both with the claim that he was armed during the alleged crimes. Twenty-two-year-old Frank Olano is being held on charges of aiding after the fact in a murder, as well as possessing stolen goods, and three counts of illegally owning a firearm while being a felon.

On May 25, Wactor met an unfortunate end in downtown Los Angeles when he stumbled upon a suspected catalytic converter theft in progress. The Los Angeles Times revealed last week that at least three suspects were apprehended and detained following the shooting incident, due to their connection with the crime. These suspects were identified as a result of police investigations on fingerprints left behind on the car jack used to steal Wactor’s catalytic converter.

Barceleau, Estrada, Gutierrez, and Olano are all being held in custody for now, with bond amounts set at $2 million each for the first three individuals, and $1 million for Olano.

After the tragic passing of Wactor, his beloved godmother, Michaelle Kinard, swiftly established a GoFundMe campaign that garnered an astounding $50,000 in a single day. Now, this generous donation pool has grown to over $144,000. As a movie enthusiast who adored his work, I can’t help but feel moved by the outpouring of support from fellow fans.

“On May 25th, my cherished and valued friend’s child met a tragic end. This senseless act of violence claimed the life of Johnny Wactor, who was affectionately known as Brando Corbin on ‘General Hospital.’ In Los Angeles early Saturday morning, Johnny was on his way home from work with a colleague when they encountered three individuals trying to steal his catalytic converter. Thinking he had been towed away, Johnny asked, ‘Am I being towed?’ The masked individual stood up and fired a shot without responding.”

Read More

2024-08-20 01:18