Bechler’s girlfriend says he’s proposed

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- One of the prosecution’s key witnesses in a high-profile

murder case said the accused killer has asked her to marry him, which

could throw a wrench into the prosecution’s case.

The girlfriend of 32-year-old Eric Bechler, who is scheduled to be

arraigned in Harbor Justice Center this morning, said Wednesday that

Bechler has proposed to her since his arrest on Oct. 29. Bechler is

accused of murdering his wife, Pegye, for financial gain.

Under legal provisions, spouses of defendants cannot testify about

statements they made to each other while they were married. Called a

marital privilege, the law tries to preserve the sanctity of marriage.

In this particular case, the girlfriend, who the Pilot will not name, has

spoken to Bechler many times and could enhance the prosecution’s case

against him.

However, the girlfriend wore a recording device the night Bechler was

arrested and the tapes reportedly contain incriminating statements about

Pegye’s disappearance. The prosecution would likely use the recordings

and may opt not to have the woman take the stand.

Prosecutors believe Bechler killed 38-year-old Pegye when the couple took

a boating trip off the Newport Beach coast two years ago. Bechler

maintains a wave threw him underwater while he was body boarding behind

the speedboat and when he came up for air, his wife had disappeared.

Some people considered Bechler’s story suspect because his wife, a

triathlete, was known to be a strong swimmer. He has stated before that

Pegye might have struck her head on the side of the boat and drowned.

The Coast Guard searched for the missing woman’s body for days, but it

was never found.

Authorities suspect Bechler killed his wife for financial gain. The

couple were having financial problems months prior to Pegye’s

disappearance, mainly because of a soured sale of their physical therapy

business. The Bechlers ended up receiving only part of the deal struck

with the buyer, Costa Mesa-based ARV Assisted Living, Inc.

Authorities believe Bechler killed his wife to gain access to a

multimillion-dollar insurance policy. However, the couple had taken out

dual policies that paid out similar amounts should the other spouse die.

The news of a possible marriage between Bechler and his girlfriend comes

as somewhat of a surprise, given the history of their relationship.

Bechler pleaded guilty in August to assault charges after a fight between

him and the girlfriend. He was sentenced to three years’ probation and

was ordered not to have any contact with the woman.

On Wednesday, the woman denied that Bechler ever hit her and added he

treated her and her children well.

Prosecutors wouldn’t comment about any of the evidence in the case.