Reward for Killer of Homeless Men Called 'No Brainer'

The union representing Orange County sheriff's deputies hopes a $5,000 reward it offered today will flush out whoever fatally stabbed three homeless men.

Tom Dominguez, president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, told City News Service that the reward is aimed at motivating someone with information about the killings to contact authorities.

"We should be doing this. It's a no-brainer," Dominguez said. "This guy is a serial killer preying on some of the most vulnerable people in society. We have to do whatever we can to stop him from killing anyone else.

"If a reward can get someone to talk and help find him, it's worth every penny and more," Dominguez said.

On Dec. 20, 53-year-old James McGillivray was attacked as he slept outside a Placentia shopping center. Eight days later, the body of Lloyd Middaugh, 42, was discovered on Anaheim's Santa Ana River Trail. On Dec. 30, 57-year-old Paulus Cornelius Smit was found dead behind the Yorba Linda library.

All of the victims died of repeated stab wounds.

Surveillance video taken prior to McGillivray's slaying in Placentia shows a man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. Investigators also are searching for a white, four-door 2000 to 2003 Toyota Corolla shown on the video.

The task force assigned to the case includes investigators from the Sheriff's Department, the FBI and the Anaheim, Placentia and Brea police departments.

"We're the biggest [law enforcement] agency in the county with the most resources," Dominguez said. "If it happens in Orange County, we are going to be involved.

"Not only do we work in Orange County, we live there," Dominguez said. "We want to help keep it safe. We want to set an example."