Orange County authorities were working Tuesday to extradite an Anaheim man charged with killing his girlfriend, a mother of three who was found dead Friday in her Huntington Beach home.
Jason Joseph Becher, 41, was arrested Saturday in Oregon, where he remains behind bars awaiting extradition, according to Huntington Beach police Officer Jennifer Marlatt.
Becher was charged Monday with murder with a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. He is accused of killing 50-year-old Marylou Sarkissian, whose body was found about 1 p.m. Friday after a friend of Becher’s asked police to conduct a welfare check at the victim’s home in the 9000 block of Litchfield Drive, Marlatt said.
According to court records, Becher has a lengthy criminal history and the victim’s sister obtained a temporary restraining order against Becher earlier this year.
Debra Correia Zdrazil filed for a restraining order in July, according to court records.
“Jason Becher has been harassing me since June 28, 2016, with threats of revenge and slander of my reputation,” the woman wrote in a court declaration in July. “He has done this with electronic means, as in numerous texts and voicemails. These texts and voicemails contain very obscene language and threats to my personal safety. He also has impersonated me by posting false advertisements about me on the Internet, causing strangers to harass me and bombard my phone with phone calls, texts and texts with offensive pictures.”
Sarkissian’s sister alleged that “the constant harassment is causing me severe anxiety and getting in the way of my other duties at work and at home.”
She called police July 17 when the alleged harassment continued, according to the court document.
Becher “has continued to harass me even when told by a police officer to stop,” she said.
As part of the request for the restraining order, she included text messages allegedly sent by Becher that read, “Marylou owes me 1600 dollars pass the word on have her mail me a check.”
The text continued, “I know Marylou cheated on me in Palm dessert (sic) with you. She cheated on me on her last business trip, she cheated on me with you many times. Your (sic) both liars.”
Zdrazil also wrote in another court document filed in August, “Jason Becher has informed me that he will seek revenge on me and my family members.”
She added that Becher “has continued to harass me, even when told by Judge Timothy Stafford at the previous hearing for my request for a permanent restraining order on August 5, 2016.”
Zdrazil also detailed some alleged voicemail messages in the court filing.
“I’m facin’ 10 (expletive) years now!” he allegedly said in one message, according to Zdrazil. “Expect some calls at your work tomorrow. You deserve everything you’re gonna get. I’ll see you at (expletive) Sea Legs or go some (expletive) place. I’m bringin’ my (expletive) with me and we’re gonna (expletive) handle you (expletives). Wait till I bring my girls down there. I’ve got some badass (expletives) on my side.”
Becher also allegedly blamed her for the demise of his relationship with the victim.
“You (expletive) up everything in my relationship,” he allegedly said, according to Zdrazil.
Becher’s criminal history in Orange County dates back to 1996. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale of marijuana in 1997 and was sentenced to 283 days in jail.
He pleaded guilty in July 2001 to corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2005, to inflicting corporal injury with a prior conviction and stealing a car, which netted him four years in prison, according to court records. He was also convicted in 2005 of driving under the influence and was sentenced to a year in jail when he failed to appear in court, according to court records.
–City News Service
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