Accused Cold Case Killer Charged In Multiple Child Molestations

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — After 46 years, the man charged in the brutal slaying of a 12-year-old Corona Del Mar girl made his first court appearance in the crime. There, prosecutors announced that he's been charged with sexually assaulting two additional children.

James Alan Neal, 72, of Monument, Colorado, appeared in court Wednesday morning on charges of felony murder.

His charges, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, include felony murder while engaged in the commission of, or attempted commission of, the performance of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, and five felony counts of performance of lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 14, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for multiple victims.

As of this report, Neal has not made his plea. He was held without bail and returns to court at the end of March.

If he is found guilty, the maximum penalty Neal would face is 82 years to life in state prison, Melanie Eustice of the OCDA's office said.

"The District Attorney indicated that the death penalty would be researched as an option in this case," Eustice wrote. "It is the conclusion of the District Attorney that the death penalty is not an available legal option in this case."

OCDA Todd Spitzer said he considered pursuing the death penalty for Neal, but legal research showed it was not an option.

"The murder occurred when the death penalty was deemed unlawful here in California," Spitzer told City News Service. "I determined that even if I wanted to pursue the death penalty, it's not available because of the year the murder occurred."

Neal was booked into the Orange County Jail about 10:20 p.m. Monday. He was arrested in Colorado Springs about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 19 in connection with the strangulation death of Linda Ann, whose death made parents think twice about letting their children outside alone.

The Corona del Mar girl disappeared while walking home from summer school on July 6, 1973, and her body was recovered the following morning in a ditch in the Back Bay area. Police said she was last seen standing near a man in a blue or turquoise van.

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