ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 14ZF0337
Date: March 15, 2016
*Co-defendant also facing the death penalty
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas announced today that he will seek the death penalty against a registered sex offender for the special-circumstances murder of four women after kidnapping and raping the victims. Franc Cano, 29, Anaheim, was indicted by the grand jury on Oct. 2, 2014, and is charged with four felony counts of special circumstances murder and four felony counts of forcible rape. The special circumstance sentencing enhancements are for murder during the commission of rape, multiple murders, lying in wait, and kidnapping.
Prior to seeking the death penalty against Cano, a special circumstances committee consisting of the District Attorney, the Senior Assistant and Assistant District Attorney in charge of the Homicide Unit, and other prosecutors experienced in capital cases met and discussed the nature of the crime, the vulnerability of the victims, the defendant’s criminal record, and other factors. The committee also considered mitigating circumstances presented by the defense attorney. Continue reading