Man 'murdered' four students after 'car he was driving mowed them down in crash'

25 October 2023 , 12:47

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Fraser Michael Bohm faces four counts of murder (Image: Perfect Game)

A man has been charged with four counts of murder after a group of students were killed in a horrific car crash.

Fraser Michael Bohm is accused of mowing down 21-year-olds Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, Deslyn Williams and Niamh Rolston, 20. He was re-arrested on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced after he was originally detained under suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter.

His release, police said, was to "allow detectives time to gather the evidence needed to secure the strongest criminal filing and conviction." In an update yesterday, police said "In this specific case, the evidence including toxicology, speed analysis, execution of search warrants, etc. was still pending and took additional time to collect."

Police added: "These types of traffic investigations are very extensive and there are various investigative factors that are involved. Our detectives worked diligently to compile all the evidence needed so they could file the maximum charges allowed under California law."

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Four Pepperdine University students were killed in the crash, left to right: Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, Niamh Rolston, and Deslyn Williams

All four of the young women at Pepperdine University were allegedly hit by Bohm's BMW died at the scene. Witnesses said the incident occurred when a car hit a group of parked vehicles and then hit the four students, a suspect tried to leave the scene by was apprehended by onlookers.

The victims were due to meet up with members of a Pepperdine fraternity party when the tragic event unfolded at 8.30pm that day near Malibu Pier and La Costa Beach. The house is on what locals call a dangerous stretch of road branded ' Dead Man's Curve.'

Bohm emerged relatively unscathed (ABC 7)

Bohm - his bail was set at $8million - was reportedly a strong baseball talent for his high school, with his family enjoying a lavish lifestyle. He was shown taking a sobriety test at the scene, but police believe alcohol is not involved, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

The deaths of the four women have left a university community broken and their families reeling from the tragedy. Among the victims was cheerleader, gymnast and pole vaulter Niamh Rolston from Los Angeles, studying business at the university and was "excited about the next chapter of her life," according to her mother Tracy in an interview with People.

Witnesses said the incident occurred when a car hit a group of parked vehicles (ABC 7)

Fellow victim Deslyn Williams was described by friend Nora Moriarty-McLaughlin as something with "a magnetic energy about her." She added: "Deslyn left of piece of herself in every person she met, her spirit will live on forever."

A biology student from Atlanta, Deslyn was studying biology and had an interest in becoming a veterinarian. Deslyn’s father Desmond Williams said to the Pepperdine Univesity Grahpic: "One thing I take away is that they went together as a friend group and they died together as a friend group."

Peyton Stewart was "looking forward to the fire," according to her father Barry in an interview with People. "I don't think she ever had any enemy," he said. Her younger sister told the Graphic that Peyton's heart was too big for the world.

Writing student Asha Weir, meanwhile, "always knew exactly what to say to suddenly make everything bad feel okay," according to her friend Phoebe Mutlu in a touching social media post. She added: "She was a true and loyal friend, sister, and confidant, wise beyond her years."

'They went together as a friend group and they died together as a friend group,' Desmond Williams said (@aubreylaynette /Instagram)

Weir had flown back from her home in Philadelphia on the day of the crash.

Pepperdine President Jim Gash said: "To the students who loved, lived with, and were in community with the departed members of our Pepperdine family, my heart is broken with yours. I join you in your grief as we process this profound loss."

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Vice President for Student Affairs Connie Horton said: "In this time of immeasurable grief and heartache, we stand together as a community and turn to our faith and each other to find hope and healing in the midst of this tragedy.

"Each departed student brought a unique gift and spirit to the University, and we deeply grieve the unfulfilled hopes and aspirations of our precious community members."

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Benjamin Lynch