ANAHEIM, Calif. (KNX) – A man who pleaded guilty to the murders of two homeless men and was accused of killing his cellmate has been deemed “mentally competent” to stand a trial, a judge ruled late last month.
On Wednesday, Magallanes agreed to continue his hearing for the three murders.
In May 2017, Marvin Magallanes confessed to killing Sabah Alsaad, Anaheim Police said, explaining that Alsaad was found stabbed to death near South Magnolia Avenue on Jan. 25.
Magallanes was later also connected to the stabbing death of Onosai Tavita.
An official told KTLA that both crimes occurred near where Magallanes lived and that he was linked to the murders through forensic evidence.
Following his arrest, Magallanes was accused of murdering his cellmate, Danny Pham, by stragngling him. Questions were raised as to why Pham, who was in jail for car theft, was sharing a cell with an “admitted double-murder.” The District Attorney’s Office ruled that jail officials were not at fault for Pham’s death.
It was during one of his early court appearances that a judge doubted Magallanes’ guilty pleas, citing his mental competency, according to the Orange County Register. The outlet reported that Magallanes was given mental-health evaluations as a result of the judge’s doubt.
In 2018, a judge found Magallanes needed treatment, saying medical reports found him to be “mentally disordered.”
If convicted, Magallanes could spend the rest of life in prison without the chance of parole.
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