Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 07ZF0005: February 7, 2014
SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced to death today for the 1988 cold case sexual assault-murder of a pregnant 22-year-old newlywed after being linked to the crime through DNA. Jason Balcom, 43, was found guilty by a jury March 12, 2012, of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of rape, sodomy, robbery, and burglary. He was recommended to receive the death penalty by a jury during a second penalty phase trial on Feb. 28, 2013. A mistrial was declared in the first penalty phase trial on March 27, 2012.
In July 1988, 22-year-old Malinda Gibbons and her husband Kent Gibbons moved to Costa Mesa from Utah. On the morning of July 18, 1988, Kent Gibbons left for work and Malinda Gibbons, who was between four and six weeks pregnant, stayed home to unpack in their new apartment. Continue reading