Mother of Murdered ABC Star Slams Soft Plea Deal

in Entertainment, Featured, Movies & TV, Television

Johnny Wactor as Brando Corbin in ABC's 'General Hospital'

Credit: Screenshot, 'General Hospital', ABC

Saturday, May 25, was one of the worst days in Scarlett Wactor’s life. It was the day that she learned her son — ABC star Johnny Wactor — had been murdered during an attempted robbery. He was just 37 years old.

And now, the devastated mother is feeling the blow of her loss with a plea deal that was reached in her son’s murder. She is stunned at the plea deal’s leniency, which will see one of the men involved in her son’s murder serving less than five years in prison.

Johnny Wactor General Hospital
Credit: Screenshot, ‘General Hospital’ ABC

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In the early morning hours of May 25, Mr. Wactor — who played Brando Corbin in ABC’s General Hospital — and a coworker were leaving their bartending job in Downtown Los Angeles when they saw a group of men standing around his car.

According to reports, at first, the Criminal Minds star thought his car was being towed. However, he quickly learned that the men were not working for a tow company, they were thieves.

The police report stated that the men were attempting to steal Mr. Wactor’s car’s catalytic converter. Catalytic converter theft is a crime that is rapidly on the rise in the Los Angeles area.

Johnny Wactor as Brando Corbin in General Hospital
Credit: Screenshot, ‘General Hospital’, ABC

Wactor’s coworker, Anita Joy, said that the actor asked the thieves what they were doing, but he did not attempt to confront them. He put his hands to the side and told the robbers that he and Joy were not a threat. She said that he “kept his cool”, but that did not stop one of the men from pulling out a gun and shooting Mr. Wactor in the chest.

A security guard heard the shots and quickly rushed to the scene. He tried to keep Mr. Wactor alive while Ms. Joy called 9-1-1. Emergency services quickly responded, but they were unable to revive the actor, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnny Wactor as Brando Corbin on General Hospital
Credit: Screenshot ‘General Hospital’, ABC

For months, the police searched for suspects in Mr. Wactor’s murder. Then, in early August, the Los Angeles Police Department released images and information on the suspects, asking the public for help in their search. Three weeks after that, police arrested four suspects in connection to the Siberia star’s murder — Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, Sergio Estrada, and Frank Olano.

Less than one month after his arrest, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He agreed to a deal in which he pled guilty to attempted robbery and grand theft. No murder charges were pursued against him, as authorities said he was not the one who shot Mr. Wactor. With his plea deal, Gutierrez could serve a max of four years and eight months in prison.

Wactor’s Mother Blasts Plea Deal

While prosecutors might be happy to finish one chapter in the murder of Johnny Wactor, his mother, Scarlett, is anything but. In fact, she is incredibly angry at the lenient deal for one of the men responsible for her son’s death.

Johnny Wactor and his mother, Scarlett
Credit: Wactor Family/Good Morning America

Scarlett Wactor spoke to TMZ after learning about the plea deal and voiced her disappointment. She does not think that the 18-year-old feels remorse for his actions. And she certainly doesn’t think that less than five years in jail is enough time to pay for his crimes.

Scarlett believes he’ll probably only end up serving 1-2 years due to prison overcrowding … and then will walk free to live a full life — something Johnny will never get the chance to do.

She doubts Gutierrez has any remorse and is convinced his guilty plea is an effort to avoid any further possible charges as the murder case evolves … and she believes he’ll dive right back into his criminal ways once he’s out, citing his probation status at the time of his arrest.

General Hospital star Johnny Wactor
Credit: Johnny Wactor, Instagram

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Police and prosecutors have confirmed that all the men involved in Wactor’s murder have extensive criminal histories.

Scarlett will be attending Gutierrez’s sentencing and reading her victim impact statement. Her family is also working to get “Johnny’s Law” passed in the state of California. The new law would impose harsher penalties for those who violate their probation. It would also require a felony murder charge for anyone involved in a murder, whether or not they pulled the trigger.

We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Johnny Wactor. We hope they are able to find peace. 

in Entertainment, Featured, Movies & TV, Television

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