Assumed Deceased: Robert Lee Vendrick--CA--02/18/2008

[Jenn]

http://www.orangecountyda.com/home/index.asp?page=8&recordid=1608&returnurl=index.asp%3Fpage%3D8%26pagenumber%3D1%26pagesize%3D300%26deptid%3D%26archive%3D0%26sl_month%3D12

Orange County District Attorney
Press Release

Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

For Immediate Release
Case # 09ZF0078
December 10, 2009
   
VIRGINIA MAN INDICTED FOR MURDERING 71-YEAR-OLD INVESTOR AFTER LURING VICTIM ONTO BOAT UNDER PRETENSE OF MEETING FEDERAL AGENTS FOR TOP SECRET INVESTMENT DEAL


SANTA ANA – A Virginia man was indicted today for murdering a 71-year-old victim by luring him onto a boat under the false pretense of meeting federal agents on San Clemente Island to discuss a top secret investment deal and disposing of his body in the ocean. Gary A. Shawkey, 46, Mechanicsville, VA, has been indicted on one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain, one felony count of grand theft, and a sentencing enhancement for stealing over $200,000. The defendant is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Dec. 17, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

In February 2009, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office released a press release with the following information:

Between January 2004 and February 2008, Shawkey is accused of swindling approximately $1 million from Robert Vendrick, a 71-year-old retired Phoenix man who had worked in the software industry. The defendant is accused of convincing Vendrick to invest in imaginary investments with the promise of high returns.

As the victim became reluctant to continue investing money with Shawkey, the defendant is accused of persuading Vendrick to invest in a new venture involving the development of top secret computer software for the federal government.  The defendant is accused of convincing Vendrick to wire $100,000 to a bank account in Shawkey’s name and telling the victim to fly to Orange County to meet with federal agents to finalize the project.

In February 2008, the defendant and the victim arrived in Orange County. Shawkey is accused of purchasing a 23-foot sailboat and convincing the victim to sail with him to San Clemente Island to meet with federal agents.  Shawkey and Vendrick got on the boat and sailed out of Dana Point Harbor. The victim was never seen again.

Sometime between Feb. 14, 2008, and Feb. 24, 2008, Shawkey is accused of murdering Vendrick and disposing of the body for financial gain.

In February 2009, Shawkey was arrested in Virginia on unrelated theft charges. He was in custody in Virginia when charges were filed against him for the murder of Vendrick that same month. The defendant was extradited to Orange County March 26, 2009, to face those charges.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

 

[Jenn]

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=10447

Self-Help Entrepreneur Gary Shawkey Indicted on Murder Charge

By: Ambrosia Sarabia | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:00:00 AM
Last updated: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 4:03:00 PM

SANTA ANA — A Virginia man who billed himself as a “self-help guru” and “entrepreneur” — in addition to stints as a commercial fisherman and a bail bondsman, among other professions — was indicted Dec. 10 on charges including murder, in connection with the disappearance of a 71-year-old investor who reportedly gave him more than $1 million.

Prosecutors said Phoenix resident Robert Vendrick was killed after 46-year-old Gary Shawkey allegedly lured him out to sea with the promise of finalizing a big-money investment deal at government-controlled San Clemente Island. Vendrick was last seen boarding a 23-foot sailboat with Shawkey at Dana Point Harbor.

Shawkey, who lives in Mechanicsville, VA, had been arrested in Virginia on unrelated theft charges when charges were filed against him in the murder of Vendrick. Shawkey has been formally charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain, one felony count of grand theft and a sentencing enhancement for allegedly stealing more than $200,000.

Prosecutors said Shawkey swindled approximately $1 million from Vendrick between January 2004 and February 2008. The defendant is accused of convincing Vendrick to invest in false investments with the promise of high returns.

When Vendrick was hesitant to continue investing with Shawkey, prosecutors said the defendant persuaded Vendrick — a former software industry professional — to invest in a new venture that involved the development of highly confidential computer software for the federal government.

As part of the plan, prosecutors said, Shawkey convinced Vendrick to wire $100,000 to a bank account in the defendant’s name and fly to Orange County — supposedly to meet with federal agents to finalize the software deal.

The defendant is accused of murdering Vendrick for financial gain and disposing of his body, sometime between Feb. 14 and Feb. 24, 2008.

At press time, Shawkey awaited arraignment and was being held without bail.

[LoriDavis]

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-22/news/29710652_1_con-man-business-partner-california-jury

California con man Gary Shawkey found guilty of murdering business partner, dumping body in ocean

BY LARRY MCSHANE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A con man was convicted of murdering his business partner during a 2008 sailing trip to cover up a $1 million ripoff - even though the victim's body was never recovered.

Gary Shawkey, 47, was found guilty Tuesday by a California jury for killing 71-year-old Robert Lee Vendrick, whose still-missing body was dumped in the Pacific Ocean, authorities said.

Shawkey faces life in prison at his July 22 sentencing because the jury convicted him of murder for financial gain.

The conviction without the recovery of a body was a legal rarity, but one juror told The Orange County Register that the evidence against Shawkey was overwhelming.

[LoriDavis]

Virginia Man Gets Life for Murder in Dana Point Missing Person Case

Thursday, August 18, 2011 12:00:00 AM
Last updated: Thursday, September 01, 2011 9:47:00 AM

SANTA ANA — Virginia resident Gary Shawkey was sentenced July 22 to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of 71-year-old Robert Lee Vendrick, who was never seen again after he boarded a boat with Shawkey.

Shawkey, 47, was found guilty June 21 of one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain, one felony count of grand theft, and a sentencing enhancement for theft of more than $200,000.
 
Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh, who prosecuted the case, said that after luring Vendrick onto a small sailboat in Dana Point Harbor in 2008 under the false pretense of meeting federal agents to discuss a secret investment deal, Shawkey murdered Vendrick and then dumped the body overboard into the Pacific Ocean. The conviction without the recovery of a body was a legal rarity.
 
Read more: http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?a=4&b=14&x=12635