A former state congressional candidate with a criminal record now faces three murder charges after Los Angeles prosecutors say he gunned down three men in a Hollywood apartment following an argument.
Story Snapshot
- Patrick Kevin Spurlock, 57, is charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of Jeremiah Badeker, Jack Cartegena and Michael Bogacz.
- Prosecutors say the killings happened early on July 24, 2026, inside a Hollywood apartment on North Wilcox Avenue.
- Los Angeles Police Department detectives arrested Spurlock on August 14 near Franklin Avenue, close to the crime scene.
- Spurlock is a convicted felon who once ran for a state legislative seat, and prosecutors allege prior serious or violent felony convictions.
- He is being held without bail, and the charges remain allegations under the law’s presumption of innocence.
Charges Filed in Hollywood Triple Killing
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced on August 20, 2026, that Spurlock faces three counts of murder in case 26CJCF05140. Prosecutors say he held the three victims at gunpoint after an argument, then shot each man at close range inside the apartment. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division led the investigation that resulted in his arrest.
Police say the attack unfolded quickly and violently. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the gunman ordered the three victims to the floor before opening fire multiple times. Detectives identified the victims as Jeremiah Badeker, Jack Cartegena and Michael Bogacz, all Los Angeles residents killed inside the North Wilcox Avenue apartment in the early hours of July 24.
Suspect’s Past Includes Politics and Prior Convictions
Spurlock is not a stranger to public life. He previously ran as a candidate for a state congressional seat before his arrest, a detail that has drawn added attention to the case. Los Angeles County prosecutors also allege he is a convicted felon with prior serious or violent felony convictions, and they say he personally used a firearm during the July killings, a charge that can add significant prison time if proven.
Detectives arrested Spurlock on August 14 in the 6600 block of Franklin Avenue, less than a quarter mile from the apartment where the three men died. He is currently held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center while the case moves through the court system. The Los Angeles Police Department has not released additional details about a possible motive beyond the alleged argument that preceded the shootings.
Presumption of Innocence Still Applies
Prosecutors themselves note that a charge is not a conviction. The district attorney’s office stated plainly that the allegations against Spurlock are just that, allegations, and that he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. That standard matters here, since the public record so far reflects only the early charging stage of the case, before any evidence has been tested at trial.
Cases like this often move fast in public perception long before they move through the courts. Legal experts note that early police and prosecutor statements shape how a case is understood well ahead of any preliminary hearing, where a judge decides only whether there is enough evidence, known as probable cause, to send a case to trial. That standard is far lower than the proof needed for a conviction.
Why This Case Resonates Beyond Hollywood
Stories involving a former political candidate accused of a violent triple killing tend to fuel public frustration that runs across the political spectrum. Many Americans, regardless of party, already question whether the people who seek public office and the systems meant to vet them are trustworthy. A case where a convicted felon once sought a state legislative seat adds fresh fuel to that distrust, even as the legal process plays out.
The case is expected to proceed to a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must show a judge there is enough evidence to hold Spurlock for trial. That hearing will mark the first real test of the evidence behind the charges, since no trial testimony or cross-examination has yet occurred. Until then, the three murder counts remain formal allegations, not proven facts.
Sources:
youtube.com, da.lacounty.gov, abc7.com
