Slayings a ‘true mystery,’ police say

Andrew Wainer

The double homicide of Kenneth Stahl and Carolyn Oppy-Stahl remains a

“true mystery,” say investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s

Department.

Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the department, said there are three teams

of investigators on the case, but they have yet to have any breaks.

Stahl and Oppy-Stahl were found shot dead inside their car on Dec. 20.

Their car, with its engine still running, was discovered by a security

guard along the Ortega Highway about nine miles east of San Juan

Capistrano.

The Huntington Beach couple was shot multiple times but neither the car

nor any of their possessions were stolen from the crime scene, Amormino

said.

Family members say the couple’s possessions at the time of the slayings

included hundreds of dollars in cash and valuable jewelry.

The Sheriff’s Department would not say what type of weapon was used in

the murder.

Investigators have not determined whether the deaths were perpetrated by

someone known to the victims or whether it was a random homicide.

On Saturday, a memorial service was held for the victims at St. Andrews

Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

“It turned out beautifully. The whole family was very pleased,” said Hal

Polley, Stahl’s stepfather.

Polley said guests flew in from around the county to attend the services

for the popular couple.

He said there were about 500 mourners present to honor the memory of his

stepson and his wife.

But Polley said family members are still struggling to come to terms with

the tragedy.

The senselessness of the crime has weighed heavy on the family.

He said the couple was well-liked and had no known enemies.

“We will have this in our mind until this case is brought to fruition,”

Polley said. “We just lost two beautiful people and it is going to take

time to get over it.”