Murder suspect arrested at Campus Point

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

After a brief chase at Campus Point Beach Thursday night, UC Santa Barbara Police arrested an 18-year-old Northridge man who the Los Angeles Police Department says is a suspect wanted in connection with the stabbing death of a 33-year-old homeless man.
Campus police began searching for the suspect, Jason Thalheimer, after a “be on the lookout” alert was issued Los Angeles Law enforcement agencies.


“After an attempt to flee from a contacting officer Thalheimer was taken into custody and later released the same evening to the Los Angeles Police Department,” said UCSB Police Captain Cathy Farley in a prepared statement.
A UCSB police officer who asked to remain anonymous said officers located Thalheimer camping in a tent on the beach.
According to a story in the Los Angeles Daily News, Thalheimer faces a murder charge in the death of Daniel Edward Koch, who was stabbed sometime late Aug. 25 or early Aug. 26.
The Daily News story said Koch’s bloodied body was found lying face down in a creek in Limekiln Canyon Park in Porter Ranch at about noon on Aug. 26.
According to the same story, a second suspect in Koch’s death, 18-year-old Alexander Marez, also of Northridge, has been arrested and charged by prosecutors with murder.
Police say Thalheimer and Marez knew Koch and were drinking with him when an argument broke out and the stabbing occurred.