Pepperdine 4 Case Updates: Big Wins for the Families and Friends of Sorority Victims.
Happy Monday!
There’s a lot going on lately in regard to several cases, so I may slide into your email more than usual this week.
Here are your PEPPERDINE4 case updates:
Bridget Thompson and Brooke Doherty (friends of the 4 Pepperdine victims) exemplify the power of small voices making HUGE impacts.
Their unwavering advocacy has officially opened the door to improving safety measures along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA.
Pepperdine law student and advocate, Billy Melcher, shared the update…
“The Planning Commission for the City of Malibu adopted Resolution 2569 — a plan allocating $55 million to make safety improvements along PCH from Serra Rd. to Ventura County.
The plan includes the installation of 19 new guard rails, 22 new or upgraded curb ramps, 6,956 linear feet of new sidewalks or retaining walls, 2 realigned intersections, 27 new street lamps, 15 miles of new or upgraded bike lanes, vehicle pullouts for law enforcement use, and median reconstructions.
The commission added two conditions of approval:
(1) that the added street lamps are dark sky compliant to the furthest extent feasible; (2) that CalTrans gather and considers input for the design of the sidewalk on PCH between Malibu Canyon and John Tyler Dr. from LASD, LA County Fire, and Pepperdine University.
Bridget Thompson and Brooke Doherty both courageously delivered powerful speeches during public comment. In fact, Commissioner Kammins quoted Brooke’s speech before changing her deciding vote to ‘yes’ — Commissioner Peak followed suit and also voted ‘yes’. The plan, originally expected to fail, passed by a vote of 4-1.”
These future safety measures will surely save lives on a road that’s been a source of many tragic vehicle accidents.
Now that the plan has passed, there have been several appeals by other community members. It will go before the city council for a final vote on 11/24/25.
On top of all this good news…
The most recent pretrial hearing for the Pepperdine4 case (State of CA vs. Fraser Bohm) was another win for the families. The defense’s efforts to dismiss the charges of 2nd degree murder against the driver was **denied**.
Here is Defense Attorney Alan Jackson arguing that his client, Bohm — who chose to drive at dangerous speeds up to 104 MPH in a 45 MPH zone did not maliciously slaughter people like the Idaho4 killer, Brian Kohberger…
And therefore Bohm shouldn’t be charged with murder.
The judge clearly wasn’t buying Alan Jackson’s argument.
The comparison of Bohm to Kohberger was a hyperbolic swing and a miss for the defense.
For one —
Kohberger was charged with First Degree murder, and Bohm is charged with Second Degree. The requirements to meet these charges are different, so comparing them is ineffective.
The reality is…
A vehicle is a dangerous machine.
Driving a vehicle at such extreme speeds — especially on a road (Bohm allegedly admits he’s familiar with) that’s lined with residential homes, parallel parking, and frequent pedestrian crossings — is a choice by the driver.
A reckless one.
It’s a choice that’s deliberately putting people at risk of injury or death.
And unfortunately, in this case, the high-speed moving vehicle ended the lives of 4 young women who had so much life ahead of them.
This type of reckless driving behavior is a lot like playing Russian Roulette.
A good question to ask ourselves is…
If our loved one was killed by a person who was playing Russian Roulette, is it murder? Or is it simply an accident?
The jury will have their hands full when deciding whether the defendant’s behaviors meet the requirements of these charges.