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MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

California man poisons eight homeless people for fun and films victims as they choke on chemical-laced food

William Robert Cable was arrested by the Huntington Beach Police Department and charged with eight felony counts of poisoning
PUBLISHED JUN 12, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA: A California man has been arrested and charged after prosecutors said he poisoned eight homeless people, including an elderly person, and then filmed their reactions to eating the laced food.

William Robert Cable, 38, of San Andreas, has been accused of being involved in a series of poisonings in the city of Huntington Beach in May that saw all the victims suffer from a series of symptoms, including seizure-like symptoms, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, and intense mouth and stomach pain.

Prosecutors said the victims were unaware that the food Cable was offering had been tampered with, and that he often convinced them into eating it with other means. "Several victims were given other food and beer to entice them to eat the poisoned food," they wrote in a press release.

They said some of the victims were told they were participating in a "spicy food challenge," before they were given food that was "laced with Oleoresin Capsicum", an oily organic resin that is twice as strong as the pepper spray used by law enforcement. After he gave them the food, Cable would videotape and record the victims' reactions.

"These human beings were preyed upon because they are vulnerable," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. "They were exploited and poisoned as part of a twisted form of entertainment, and their pain was recorded so that it could be relived by their attacker over and over again."

Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, was equally scathing in her assessment of Cable's actions. "Orange County has worked hard to address the homeless crises. It is unacceptable to see someone target these vulnerable people," she said. "These individuals do not deserve to become the target of acts of cruelty simply because they are homeless."

Cable was arrested on May 22 by the Huntington Beach Police Department and charged with eight felony counts of poisoning, one felony count of inflicting injury on an elderly person, eight misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and an infraction for consuming alcohol or smoking marijuana while driving.

Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said the 38-year-old's crimes "shocks the conscience of our community," but thanked those involved in finding who was responsible for "these heinous acts." It was a sentiment that was echoed by Huntington Beach Police Chief Robert Handy, who revealed that he had involved a juvenile in his crimes as well. "The inhumane nature of the crimes combined with targeting a vulnerable population shocks the conscience," the police chief said. "The fact an adult criminal would involve a juvenile is even more reprehensible."

Cable is currently being held at the Orange County Jail on a $500,000 bond and faces up to 19 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Investigators believe Cable may have had further victims and have urged the public to come forward with any information that will help them in their case.

Tips and leads can be given to the Huntington Beach Police Department at (714) 960-8825 or the Orange County district attorney’s office.

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