Timothy Joseph McGhee

Personal life

McGhee was born on April 27, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. His father abandoned him as a young boy, leaving the family and moving to Alaska for work. Locals recall McGhee as a typical kid who often skated in the neighborhood. As an adult, McGhee had three biological children and raised five of his girlfriend's children as well, by many accounts a good father.

The back of McGhee's typically shaven head bears a tattoo of an eagle eating a snake which appears on the flag of Mexico. McGhee also has "Atwater Village" tattooed across his chest, his gang "Toonerville RIfa" on his back, and the initials of his gang "TVR" on his stomach. He also had the initials NELA tattooed behind his left ear which likely stands for Northeast Los Angeles. McGhee stands 5’ 11" with a muscular build and frequently wears a goatee. He was given the street name Huero, slang for the Spanish word Guero translated as a light-skinned Mexican. His relatively fair complexion also earned him the nickname Eskimo. As his notorious reputation grew, McGhee would aptly earn the nickname Monster, or "the Monster of Atwater." When the U.S. Department of Justice placed him on their most wanted list, they denoted his primary alias as Joe McGhee.

Atwater Village and the Toonerville Gang

McGhee was raised in the neighborhood of Atwater Village, a lower middle class area of Los Angeles consisting of 1.78 square miles just north of downtown Los Angeles along Interstate 5 adjacent to Glendale, California. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, born the year after McGhee, grew up in the neighborhood. Judge Lance Ito, who presided over the O.J. Simpson murder trial, and Michelle Phillips, member of The Mamas & the Papas, both attended John Marshall High School there. Even the entrance to the California Adventure theme park at Disneyland was modeled after quaint Atwater Village of the 1940s.

But a Mexican street gang known as Toonerville, also referred to as Toonerville Rifa 13, AKA: TVR, established roots in the area as early as 1942. As gang activity flourished in Los Angeles in the late-1970s and 1980s, clashes between Toonerville and various rivals, most frequently Thee Rascals 13, AKA: TRS, brought drastic change to the neighborhood. The once dominant Toonerville gang's territory shrunk by more than 50% as Thee Rascals established themselves in the area of Atwater Village south of Los Feliz Boulevard. Thee Rascals 13 is a predominantly Hispanic street gang that established themselves in the late-1970s which was originally formed by a group of Atwater youths in order to protect themselves from the older, well-established gangs, primarily Toonerville Rifa (TVR), The Avenues (AVES), and Frogtown Rifa (FTR). Though smaller in number, Thee Rascals are just as equally vicious as their older arch nemesis. The crime rate increased in the area, the economy wavered, and ethnic diversity grew. A recent study found that 51.3% of the community of 15,455 are Hispanic, predominantly Mexican and Filipino. Nearly half of residents are immigrants from foreign countries and over half of the 5,000 households earn less than $40,000 annually. There is, however, a modern movement to revitalize the area into its once middle class status.

The organization claims the area north of Los Feliz Boulevard between San Fernando Road and the Los Angeles River as its territory and has expanded into at least three other suburbs of Los Angeles. At some point in the 1990s McGhee became the gang's leader or "shot-caller", demanding absolute loyalty from nearly 200 members, training his legion in calisthenics, target practice, tactics to elude police, and procedures to eliminate rival gang members. Toonerville Rifa 13 members were typically posted, armed with weapons, on three main roads that lead into their turf with cell phones or walkie-talkies for communication. The Toonerville gang's main source of income was the drug trade, in which members and associates would deal drugs, consisting primarily of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and PCP, were dealt out of numerous "trap-houses" operating within the gang's zone of control. The gang also possessed and sold an arsenal of weapons ranging from handguns to AK-47s.

McGhee's early criminal history

The earliest recorded act of violence committed by McGhee was a 1989 assault with a firearm when, at the age of 16, he pointed a shotgun at a guard while detained at a juvenile custody facility. In 1994, a 21-year-old McGhee was convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer in San Bernardino County and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 1997 after serving three years.

In 1997, two members of The Rascals Juan Cardiel and Pedro Sanchez were chased through the streets of Atwater Village allegedly by McGhee. Cardiel was shot in the back and paralyzed from the waist down. Sanchez took cover at a gas station, standing behind glass he thought was bulletproof. The shooter repeatedly fired through the glass door hitting Sanchez in the back. He would later recover from his injuries. Both identified McGhee as the shooter.

The murder of Ronnie Martin

On October 14, 1997 while on parole, it is alleged that a 24-year-old McGhee committed his first homicide. Ronnie Martin (23) was a member of Frog Town, one of TVR's biggest rivals in Atwater Village. Martin was shot 28 times and pronounced dead at the scene. McGhee was not linked to this homicide until years later. After an unrelated charge violated his parole, McGhee was sent back to prison in late 1997.

McGhee's release from prison

After violating parole in 1997, McGhee was imprisoned for roughly a year and a half. In March 1999, he was again released and lived with his grandmother in the San Gabriel Valley which has a relatively low crime rate in comparison to the more notorious neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

But 11 months later, in February 2000, McGhee was again found in violation of the terms of his parole and returned to prison. He finally earned his release in April 2000 after serving roughly five years on the assault that originally carried a four-year sentence. Police note that crime in Atwater Village seemed to increase sharply each time McGhee was released from prison.

The recording studio murder

On October 17, 1999 while on parole, a bodyguard and two rap artists were shot near the gates of Echo Sounds music studio in Atwater Village after concluding a recording session. The crew was gathered on the studio's patio at 11:40 PM when at least two gunmen confronted them and began shooting without warning. Bodyguard Dwayne "Draws" Dupree (23) was killed, pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Dupree was guarding rapper Ricardo "Kurupt" Brown, future executive vice president of Death Row Records who was finishing his album Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha with Antra Records.

Kurupt's producer Delmar "Daz Dillinger" Arnaud, also with death row Records and cousin of legendary rapper Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, was present but uninjured. Death Row artist Jevon "Tha Realest" Jones was wounded in the foot and Willard "Act Da Fool" Givers was wounded in the calf. It was initially suggested that a hidden track on the album could be a motive for the shooting that insulted rappers DMX (rapper), The Firm (hip hop group), and others. Later, it was McGhee and an affiliate who were linked to the shooting.

The murder of Ryan Gonzalez

On June 3, 2000, rival gang member Ryan Gonzalez (16) was killed as he walked home from a party. He was fatally shot in the 3300 block of Silver Lake Boulevard in Toonerville gang territory near Atwater Avenue Elementary School. A 27-year-old McGhee was the alleged assailant. Gonzalez was a member of The Rascals gang, and he happened to share McGhee's nickname Huero. Investigators believe McGhee's motive was simply that the neighborhood wasn’t big enough for two people with the same street name. In June 2000, an arrest warrant was issued for McGhee in connection with the Gonzalez murder, but it would be several years and many homicides later that law enforcement would actually catch up with him.

The ambush of LAPD officers

On July 4, 2000, LAPD officers Thomas Baker and Carlos Langarica were on patrol when they received a call around 3:30 AM that three males had stolen a wallet and fled the scene of the robbery in a gray Honda. Upon encountering the vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, the officers made a U-turn and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver refused to stop and accelerated, both officers noting they were headed into the heart of Toonerville gang territory in Atwater Village. Baker and Langarica were aware that other LAPD officers had been ambushed in this area by gang members who would block the street with debris and open fire on police vehicles.

During this pursuit, a 27-year-old McGhee was allegedly using a police radio scanner to track the progress of the chase while coordinating an ambush. During the pursuit, the officers dodged a washing machine blocking the road, made a right turn at the corner of Bemis Street and Brunswick Avenue, and ran over a bicycle pushed into their path by an unknown suspect. As the police vehicle swerved, two gang members opened fire on the officers striking the driver-side door and even tearing a hole through Officer Baker's pants. Shaken but undeterred, the officers continued the pursuit even as suspects in the gray vehicle began to open fire, ramming the rear of the vehicle to bring it to a stop. The passenger in the front seat fled the scene pointing a semi-automatic pistol at the police. Baker rammed the vehicle again at which point the passenger in the back seat displayed an Uzi-style submachine gun. Officers ran for cover behind a tree exchanging gunfire with the remaining two suspects in the vehicle.

Eventually backed up by other LAPD officers, all three robbery suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder. Mario "Little Boy" Aleman, Ramon "Chubbs" Maldonado, and Joseph "Little Respect" Aghazadeh were sentenced to two consecutive life terms. The two gang members who fired on police during the attempted ambush, one of whom is suspected of being McGhee, were never identified. Aleman, Maldonado, and Aghazadeh refused to give up the shooters’ names in exchange for a lessened prison sentence. Neither officer was injured but both later indicated that they did not think they would survive the incident. Both officers were awarded the prestigious LAPD Medal of Valor in 2003 for their bravery.

The murder of Marty Gregory Roybal

On September 14, 2000, John Marshall High School student Marty Gregory Roybal (17) was fatally shot as he sketched a picture of the Los Angeles River. A homeless man David Lamont Martin (33) was also shot and killed at the scene, likely a witness to the shooting. A 27-year old McGhee was suspected in both murders. Roybal is not closely related to Los Angeles native and U.S. Representative Edward R. Roybal.

The murder of Manuel Apodaca

It seems that 2001 was allegedly a busy year for a 28-year-old McGhee. He had been incarcerated for yet another parole violation involving narcotics, this time at the California Institution for Men in Chino, California, but was released in May 2001. Beginning in June, he was suspected of shooting nine individuals in the span of five months leaving six dead and three wounded. The homicidal spree began on June 11, 2001 when McGhee was allegedly traveling through the affluent Los Feliz area that borders Atwater Village and features the popular Griffith Observatory. Manuel Apodaca, Jr. (21) lived 35 miles to the east in Pomona and was passing through with his pregnant girlfriend Nina Guerrero. McGhee allegedly opened fire on their vehicle on Los Feliz Boulevard near Interstate 5 known in that area as the Golden State Freeway. Apodaca, allegedly a member of The Rascals (gang), was killed and Guerrero suffered severe brain damage but their unborn baby was delivered successfully.

The murder of Carlos Velasco

In July 2001, Carlos Velaso (21) was working at a furniture warehouse on North San Fernando Road in Atwater Village. Police state that McGhee, who had driven by and seen the stranger, ordered gang affiliates to kill the man because he did not recognize him. The homicidal order was carried out successfully.

The Wisotsky massacre

Atwater Village resident Cheri Wisotsky (46) had reported to police that McGhee was dealing drugs out of his sister's house nearby, allegedly. On August 8, 2001, Wisotsky was murdered as well as witnesses to the crime Mary Ann Wisotsky (64), Cheri's mother, and Bryham Robinson (38), friend and neighbor. McGhee is the alleged triggerman in the triple homicide.

The murder of Marjorie Mendoza

On November 8, 2001, McGhee was allegedly prowling the streets with fellow gang member Eduardo "Limpy" Rodriguez seeking revenge over the death of a comrade hours earlier. Armed with handguns and assault rifles, they came upon rival gang member Duane Natividad in the 3100 block of Hollydale Drive, a mere six blocks south of the Gonzalez murder in 2000. Natividad was driving his Mitsubishi Montero with his girlfriend Marjorie Mendoza (25) and her friend Erica Rhee (16). Mendoza and Natividad had three children, Mark (5), Justin (3), and Nathan (1), who were not with them at the time. At 12:01 AM, November 9, as Natividad pulled up to a residence, McGhee and Rodriguez allegedly pulled in front of them, exited their vehicle, and opened fire on the Montero without warning or any verbal altercation. Natividad ducked and was struck in the right hand while Rhee ducked in the back seat avoiding injury. As her boyfriend threw the car in reverse and accelerated away, Mendoza was hit multiple times and was driven to Glendale Memorial Hospital where she later died.

Toonerville gang member Eduardo "Limpy" Rodriguez (22) was arrested the following day. Homicide detectives announced on November 27, 2001 that another suspect Timothy McGhee was still at large and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Detective Timothy Neel noted that since McGhee's release from prison six months prior, "violent crimes in the Atwater area have skyrocketed."

The murder of Christina Duran

Christina Duran (29), a friend of McGhee's, learned of Marjorie Mendoza's murder after McGhee solicited her help that same day. He needed to retrieve his girlfriend's cellphone he had dropped at the scene of the Mendoza murder. Duran was unsuccessful in finding the cellphone, but police managed to locate it and used it as evidence in McGhee's eventual trial. Shortly after the murder, Duran admitted to police during a videotaped interview with LAPD homicide detectives that McGhee was involved in the death of Mendoza. She was visibly shaken during the interrogation, frequently stating her fear of retribution. Two days after speaking with police, Christina Duran was killed in an execution-style murder on the night she celebrated her 29th birthday party, shot in the back of the head five times allegedly by McGhee.

McGhee wrote hip hop lyrics as a hobby but never seriously pursued music. Many of his lyrics referred to his love of killing and his hatred of the police. His writings actually detailed the Mendoza murder as well as other prior homicides. One line eventually used against him in court read "Witness protection won’t work/ Realize your ratt ain’t going to make it to the stand." referring to his goal to eliminate anyone who might testify against him. He took the time to write "everything in this book is a work of fiction" inside his spiral notebook in case it was ever seized by police. This did not deter the prosecution in his eventual trial.

America's Most Wanted

In the fall of 2002, a task force of as many as 60 local and federal investigators began searching for McGhee after linking him to numerous homicides. LAPD detectives had enough evidence to charge McGhee in one single case, the homicide of Margie Mendoza. On August 28, the LAPD appealed to the public for information regarding McGhee's involvement in the Mendoza murder as well as the triple homicide involving Cheri Wisotsky. A $55,000 reward was offered but no one came forward.

When it became clear that McGhee was running the Toonerville gang from out of state, the U.S. Marshals Service aided the LAPD forming a task force with more investigators, vehicles, and even aircraft. McGhee was placed on America's 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list on September 25, 2002 by U.S. Marshals, wanted for questioning in an additional 11 other homicides. At this point, McGhee had only been officially charged with the Mendoza murder by the Los Angeles district attorney's office while U.S. marshals had charged him with the federal offense of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution under warrant number W663293984. City councilman Eric Garcetti posted a $50,000 reward for McGhee's capture. Even the popular television series America's Most Wanted appealed to the public by filming a segment in early 2003 dedicated to the search for McGhee.

Despite such a record of violence, McGhee had received surprisingly little attention from the national media before this point, with barely any coverage in Southern California. In 2002, there would have only been 11 individuals alive in the United States who had committed more than 12 homicides. As Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Leonard put it many years later, "even in a city with more than 150 gang slayings a year, Timothy Joseph McGhee's murders stood out." But not in 2003. The public hadn’t heard much, but detectives knew McGhee's name well. Suspicious of the grand scope of McGhee's power and influence in the criminal world, they had difficulty linking him to his crimes because neighborhood residents, fellow gang members, and even rivals wouldn’t talk to police, terrified of retaliation.

On January 10, 2003, the Los Angeles Times reported that a 29-year-old McGhee was wanted for his role in a dozen homicides, perhaps the notoriety that drove McGhee to flee the state of California. He had already spent the last six months shifting between Atwater Village, Las Vegas, and Arizona, never staying in one place for more than a week. He would even throw off police by brazenly staying in rival gangs’ neighborhoods. LAPD officer Andy Teague was quoted as saying "People know you don’t cross McGhee. If you cross him, you’re dead." A break in the case came when a reader of the Mojave Desert News recognized 29-year-old McGhee, from a photograph in the newspaper, as a man who was living in Bullhead City, Arizona. McGhee's father happened to own a business there, making the lead credible. The witness led authorities to a Ramar Street apartment on February 11, 2003 where McGhee had lived off and on for the past year.

Arrest

On February 11, 2003, a surveillance team in Bullhead City observed a man resembling the 29-year old fugitive leaving the apartment in question, but conclusive identification was not possible in the dark. The suspect was followed by investigators to a double-wide mobile home on nearby Brill Street but no arrest was made. Early February 12 after roughly 20 hours of surveillance, as authorities were preparing a search warrant and planning to raid the home with a SWAT team, U.S. marshals positively identified McGhee departing the residence with a female driver. Officers pulled the vehicle over around 1:00 PM on Roadrunner Drive and McGhee was ordered out of the car and onto the ground in the presence of more than 25 officers of the LAPD, Bullhead City Police Department, and federal law enforcement. McGhee surrendered without a struggle, refusing to speak. When an LAPD officer who knew McGhee attempted to engage him in conversation, McGhee simply glared at him, smiling at spectators. The suspect wore a T-shirt that read "Run. Jump. Throw a donut." referring to the best way to elude a police officer. Another T-shirt was discovered in McGhee's possession that read "Fugitive. Can’t see me." exemplifying his sheer audacity. The female driver was unaware of McGhee's true identity, nor did she have any suspicion that he was a wanted man.

On February 13, McGhee appeared at the Mojave County courthouse in Kingman, Arizona to begin extradition proceedings.

On February 15, 2003, season 16 episode 16 of America's Most Wanted aired after the fact. McGhee's story was outlined as well as the high-profile case of Elizabeth Smart who had been missing for 256 days at that point. The episode led to her rescue 25 days later and the arrest of her kidnapper Brian David Mitchell.

With McGhee in custody, the next logical choice for head of the Toonerville gang was Juan "Sharpie" Rodarte, a close associate of McGhee's. However, Rodarte was arrested later in 2003 for possession of a firearm and cocaine.

Prison riot

While awaiting trial, McGhee was held without bail in the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail, the largest single jail facility in the world just minutes south of Atwater Village. Being the charismatic leader that he was, he commanded the respect of equally intimidating criminals housed in cell block 3300 A-Row, the highest security area of the facility. McGhee was the shot caller and fellow inmates would not act without his permission. He claimed to have been verbally and physically assaulted by deputies during his time in jail, even reporting one incident to the ACLU.

On January 7, 2005 at roughly 4:40 PM, inmate Rudolfo Gonzalez, intoxicated from a homemade alcoholic concoction, was to be removed from cell block A. Sheriff Deputy Raul Ibarra handcuffed Gonzalez and extracted him from his cell under the ruse of meeting with his attorney. They passed McGhee's cell who stated that Gonzalez, an acquaintance of his since elementary school, did not have his permission to leave. Obediently, Gonzalez attempted to return to his cell, fearing something was amiss as he did not have an attorney. Upon changing direction, Gonzalez was tackled by four deputies.

Inciting McGhee's rage, he commanded inmates to assault the deputies with apples, oranges, urine, and bleach. It took 20 minutes to successfully remove Gonzalez from the cell block. McGhee then ordered inmates to break the sinks in their cells so jagged pieces of porcelain could be used as weapons. It was hours later, nearly 10:00 PM that evening, when two deputies began their shifts and investigated the damage in A-Row. As they entered, they were assaulted with books, fruit, porcelain, and various items. Inmates set multiple fires and a riot squad was assembled to quash the rebellion. By 2:00 AM the following morning, all inmates had been removed from A-Row, most voluntarily surrendering but McGhee dragged out by force. Addressing the fact that an officer he assaulted survived the attack, McGhee was quoted as saying "Next time I’ll have to stab him."

McGhee's trial

On September 27, 2007, four and a half years after his capture, McGhee went on trial for the murders of Ronnie Martin, Ryan Gonzalez, and Marjorie Mendoza. Additionally he was charged with the attempted murder of six individuals including LAPD officers Thomas Baker and Carlos Langarica, Duane Natividad, Erica Rhee, Pedro Sanchez, and Juan Cardiel. Prosecutors initially charged the gang member with nine murders but dropped six charges before the trial began citing unreliable witnesses. McGhee was defended by attorneys H. Clay Jacke II and Franklin Peters, Jr., attorneys with a combined 56 years of practice. In 2012, Jacke was appointed a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles County by California Governor Jerry Brown.

Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry presided over the case. Perry has overseen several high-profile cases in Los Angeles, sentencing arsonist John Leonard Orr to life in prison in 1998 and dismissing drug conspiracy charges against Howard K. Stern in 2011 regarding the death of model Anna Nicole Smith.

In court, police and prosecutors described McGhee as a thrill killer, among the most feared gang members in Los Angeles. A chilling portrayal of the life of a gang member was presented with testimony of cold-blooded murder casually implemented to protect the organization's lucrative illegal drug business. Deputy District Attorney Hoon Chun stated that unlike most gang members who kill for revenge, McGhee seemed to kill for sport much like a serial killer. Evidence was presented that McGhee taunted at least one of his victims saying "Die like a man." before firing the fatal shot into his skull. While prosecutors detailed the horrific crimes McGhee was accused of perpetrating, he frequently flashed a broad smile at spectators in the courtroom.

Despite his notorious reputation, the prosecution was able to solicit the testimony of McGhee's gang rivals, former gang affiliates, and even his accomplices. Several of these witnesses were under police protection for their safety while others had to be ordered to testify. However, intimidated by the mere presence of McGhee in court, a number of rival gang members drastically changed their testimonies. Cardiel and Sanchez now claimed they weren’t sure who shot them a decade earlier. Even prosecutors, his own attorneys, and gang experts declined comment outside of court.

McGhee's incriminating hip hop lyrics were also used against him in court in which he detailed a number of his murders. He compared himself to fictional serial killer Freddy Krueger from the motion picture series A Nightmare on Elm Street and outlaw Jesse James. Residents of Atwater Village were terrified of the possibility that McGhee could be found innocent and subsequently released to terrorize the neighborhood again. Police had noted that crime escalated in the area during spans when McGhee was not in custody. Meanwhile McGhee's mother canvassed the neighborhood during his incarceration passing out leaflets that asked for prayer for her son.

McGhee's verdict

Early on in the deliberation process, a juror who favored the defense was removed for unspecified reasons and replaced by an alternate. On October 25, 2007, after a week of deliberations, eight men and four women found McGhee guilty of all three murders. He was also found guilty in the attempted murder of four other individuals including the two LAPD officers whose ambush he organized, and Duane Natividad and Erica Rhee who were shot in Atwater Village.

McGhee was acquitted of the attempted murders of Pedro Sanchez and Juan Cardiel, both of whom identified McGhee the night they were shot only to claim in court that they could not recall the perpetrator.

McGhee's sentence

On October 26, 2007, the death penalty phase of the trial began. McGhee was eligible for the death penalty because he was convicted of multiple murders and used homicide to further the activities of a criminal street gang. Prosecutors presented additional evidence that McGhee was involved in a fourth murder, that of Christina Duran. McGhee was not tried for her murder after so many witnesses refused to testify against him. On November 9, 2007 after days of deliberating, the same jury that convicted McGhee deadlocked on whether he should be executed or receive life in prison without parole. After three days of deliberations, the vote remained 10-to-2 in favor of the death penalty so prosecutors elected to retry the penalty phase of the case.

On November 14, 2007, McGhee stood trial for his role in the 2005 prison riot. He was sentenced to 75 years to life after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit an assault, conspiracy to commit vandalism, three counts of resisting executive officers in the performance of their duties, and two counts of assault. On August 27, 2008, with six sheriffs standing guard and the accused sitting shackled in an orange jumpsuit, a second jury agreed unanimously that 35-year-old McGhee should be sentenced to death.

A fatal shooting on October 8, 2008 in which a Toonerville gang member killed a Mongols motorcycle gang member on a Los Angeles interstate initiated a probe into gang activity and the prosecution of 20 Toonerville members.

On January 9, 2009, Judge Perry officially sentenced McGhee to death. McGhee was additionally sentenced to multiple consecutive life sentences for the four attempted murders. Perry stated that McGhee treated killing as "some kind of perverse sport, as if he was [sic] hunting human game." He continued "(McGhee) is a committed killer and an obvious danger to society." McGhee showed no emotion.

McGhee now resides on death row in San Quentin State Prison awaiting his execution as prisoner number G47302.