Motive still unknown in last week’s triple murder

Authorities have yet to determine what motivated Toby Whelchel to kill three people and injure five others in a two-day killing spree last week.

Although investigators are confident Whelchel acted alone, they’re still investigating to be certain that no one else was involved, according to Eric Nishimoto, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

On Memorial Day, Whelchel, 38, shot Steve Mazin, 52, and Janice Heyne, 51, in Thousand Oaks. He reemerged the next morning in a Santa Rosa Valley neighborhood and killed Carole Nordella, 48, before stealing a pickup truck parked at her home.

During his crime spree, Whelchel also injured Moorpark Sheriff’s Dep. Scott Ramirez; Timothy Heyne, Janice’s husband; Kevin Brown, an aspiring firefighter and paramedic who was cleaning the Nordella’s pool; and Nordella’s two children, Carole, 14, and Jeffrey, 10.

A police pursuit followed Whelchel to the Simi Valley WalMart where he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Court records show a connection between Whelchel and the Mazins. Ventura County Superior Court records indicate that Mazin filed a restraining order against Whelchel in 2002. Whelchel also has a criminal record in several states, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

There was also evidence that Whelchel was staying at the home of Joanne Mazin, Steve Mazin’s estranged wife.

Authorities confirm that Whelchel had a business relationship with Joanne Mazin, but wouldn’t substantiate if that relationship was also romantic.

Joanne Mazin’s house was in escrow as part of the divorce proceedings with Steve Mazin. This may have played a part in the event, said Nishimoto. Investigators found evidence that Whelchel had slept at the house, but couldn’t confirm that he was actually living there.

“Whelchel also had a contentious relationship with Steve Mazin over legal matters at the very least,” Nishimoto said.

Although the first incident wasn’t random—Whelchel apparently intended to kill Mazin—the other crimes seemed to be spontaneous, said Nishimoto. Heyne was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said.

In hindsight, the crime spree gave authorities a chance to evaluate the effectiveness of their procedures, according to Nishimoto. And everyone was reminded that even two of the safest cities in the U.S.

aren’t immune to violent crime. The incidents also emphasized the importance of taking all possible precautions when a criminal is at large.

It’s rare even in tough cities to have such violent crimes, Nishimoto said. “People still don’t lock their windows or doors, but even if chances are low, these precautions should be taken,” he said.

When Whelchel appeared at the Nordella home, he apparently entered through an unlocked door.