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'Parents probably have connections': Internet questions Fraser Bohm's release after BMW crash leaves 4 Pepperdine students dead

Fraser Bohm allegedly received the 2016 BMW involved in the crash on his 18th birthday as part of his parents' divorce settlement

MALIBU, CALIFORNIA: Fraser Bohm, a 22-year-old former baseball player who was identified as the suspect behind the fatal PHC crash that claimed the lives of four Pepperdine University students, was reportedly released from custody just hours after the accident. 

The deadly incident took place at the 21600 block of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), near La Costa Beach and east of the Malibu Pier, around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, all in their 20s, were reportedly walking along the PCH when an allegedly speeding Bohm "lost control" of his BMW and hit three parked vehicles before striking the four Pepperdine University sorority sisters.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that Bohm was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following a preliminary investigation into the crash, Law and Crime reported. 

However, he was released from custody several hours after the crash pending further investigation. Bohm's release has sparked outrage online as users on social media continue to mourn the loss of the four students. 

Fraser Bohm received his BMW as a gift from his wealthy parents 

According to the Daily Mail, Bohm allegedly received the 2016 BMW involved in the crash on his 18th birthday as part of his parents' divorce settlement.

His mother Brooke, 57, reportedly bought the vehicle using a down payment of $25,000 in 2017 while did dad Chris, 59, paid the remaining installments.

The settlement, which marked the end of Brooke and Chris' 2018 divorce, also provided a glimpse of the Bohm family's lavish lifestyle, including a "gated" Malibu estate that the former received in the divorce. 

The house was reportedly placed on sale in late September for $9,750,000 but the price was reduced to $8,795,000 within a week. Realtors told the outlet that the house gives a "hip, beach-chic vibe" and sits in a "celebrity enclave." 

It also provides panoramic ocean views from a full-length deck "where you can relax on comfortable couches while enjoying sunrises, sunsets, dolphins playing and views of Dume, Catalina, the South Bay, and the beautiful Queen's Necklace stretching to Palos Verdes."

Bohm, who played for Oaks Christian School before graduating, reportedly lives on the same property at present.

Divorce papers also showed that the suspect's family owned a second home, a $700,000 three-bedroom condo, which is part of the upscale Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert. 

Bohm's father Chris is reportedly the Vice President of Sales West at Palo Alto-based medical equipment manufacturer ReCor Medical, while his mother Brooke runs a photography business. 

At the time of the divorce settlement, Brooke's main source of income was reportedly social security disability checks and a spousal support award of more than $6,000 a month.

However, she likely belonged from a wealthy background as her parents lived in the $700,000 three-bedroom condo before their deaths, the Daily Mail reported. 

Despite their lavish lifestyle, the Bohm family was also allegedly in debt, with more than $80,000 owed on credit cards, the outlet reported. 

Internet questioned Fraser Bohm's release from custody 

In the wake of the tragic deaths of the four Pepperdine University students, several social media users questioned Bohm's release from custody and shared their theories on the situation. 

A user on Facebook wrote, "Someone help me understand this... 4 Pepperdine University seniors were killed, and two others were injured at 8:30 p.m. yesterday when 22-year-old Fraser Michael Bohm lost control of his dark-colored BMW as he drove on the Pacific Coast Highway.(Malibu area) The girls had parked their car and were walking to a fraternity house party."

"The driver swerved onto the shoulder, hitting three parked vehicles which then slammed into the four nearby students," the user further wrote.

"The women were pronounced dead at the scene. Bohm was arrested for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and released pending the outcome of the investigation, officials said. A DUI probe is also underway. The driver sustained minor injuries," they continued.

"Investigators believe he was driving a dark colored BMW westbound at a high rate of speed when he lost control, sideswiped at least three parked vehicles, which then crashed into a group of people walking in the area about 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Los Angeles," the user further added.

"He killed 4 females, and injured two others... then was released...how does that happen. Kill 4 students then go home for dinner while police investigate. No bail... dui test pending... traveling high rate of speed... Don't say he just had a good lawyer talk to the police and vouch for him," the user questioned on the social media platform.

"Fraser Bohm. Parents didn’t teach you to drive very well nor did they do their job and warn you over and over about speeding and reckless driving. Just give him this nice car so he will be happy right, well look what that false sense of happiness did. Morals people! MORALS BEFORE MATERIALS!" another user commented. 

"Every time I see something horrible that someone has done, I add the sentence "and then they were released" in my mind. Same thing here. Arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and then he was released," one user wrote on Reddit. 

"Released from custody. Apparently Rich mom hangs with Local TV anchors. Affluenza," another theorized. 

"He was released the same day. No repercussion's for murdering 4 innocent people. That is pretty much the story these days. No repercussion's no responsibility for any actions," a third commented. 

One user speculated, "I wonder if he knew the girls at all / was going to the same party. He went to the same high school as one of the girls killed. So sad" while another clarified, "Didn’t know them."

"These speeders are getting way out of hand, where is the public outcry? Its almost daily now the number of innocent pedestrians getting killed by drivers. It has to be way more than gun violence at this point. I would love to see the stats on how many are distracted, or under the influence (and by what)," another Reddit user said. 

"it's road design that allows for this unsafe behavior. lanes are too wide most of the time, for one example," one responded.

"Unfortunately any time mitigation is even suggested it causes all sorts of uproar it's politically unviable to even consider it," the user continued. 

"A death here and there has been deemed acceptable as long as traffic flows freely and drivers are spared any piddling of inconvenience. btw this stuff has been endlessly studied even in Malibu. There's absolutely no will to implemen," the user further stated. 

One user asked, "So the driver was heading westbound, which means he was driving on the non beach side. Were the women walking on that side too?"

While another pointed out, "The pictures of the cars he hit give a hint as to how fast he was going and how hard of an impact it must have been. This is incredibly tragic."

"They were just walking on the side of the road. Not crossing the street. Not in any dangerous area. Just walking. My heart hurts for their families. This really bummed me out," they added. 

Some social media users also took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their opinions on Bohm's release from custody. 

"WHY was Fraser Michael Bohm RELEASED? He KILLED 4 young students and badly injured 2 others. On J6 a lot of peaceful citizens walked into THEIR PUBLIC US Capital building and were put into solitary confinement for “trespassing”. This country has lost it’s mind," one wrote. 

"THE PARENTS PROBABLY HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE MALIBU POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE KILLED FOUR YOUNG COLLEGE GIRLS AND PUT TWO INTO THE HOSPITAL…..HE IS OUT ON BAIL WITHIN 5 HOURS. IMAGINE IF THAT WAS YOUR KID THAT HE KILLED AND HE IS OUT ON BAIL!!!" another angry user commented. 

"People can literally buy their way out of murder. Let that one sink in," a user wrote.