8 Homes Owned By Alleged Lake Elsinore Killer Blocked From Transfer

An Orange County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Thursday prohibiting an accused killer from Lake Elsinore from transferring his property to an apparent relative, according to the attorney representing the family suing the defendant.

The order issued by Orange County Superior Court Judge David McEachen prohibits defendant Stanwood Fred Elkus from transferring eight of his homes in Lake Forest and Lake Elsinore to an apparent relative, said attorney Edward Susolik, who represents the family of victim who was allegedly gunned down by Elkus in the physician's Newport Beach office in January.

"We have frozen everything," Susolik told City News Service.

Elkus has "eight properties for sure," Susolik said. "They are regular-size properties, anything from a condo to a small house."

Gilbert's wife, Elizabeth, and his two children, have filed two lawsuits in Orange County Superior Court against Elkus in the past week, Susolik said. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed March 28 and a fraudulent conveyance claim was filed Tuesday.

Elkus does not know about the TRO and was not represented in court under a legal maneuver that enables attorneys suing him to keep him out of the loop to prevent him from transferring his property to others, Susolik said.

"The first notice he'll get is tomorrow morning at visiting hours at jail," Susolik said.

Gilbert's family believes Elkus is transferring property to duck civil liability, Susolik said.

The property could be worth up to $2 million, Susolik said.

Elkus has been represented by the Orange County Public Defender's Office in the criminal case so far, according to records.

A preliminary injunction hearing on the TRO is scheduled for April 23, Susolik said.

Gilbert, of Huntington Beach, was shot a couple of days before his 53rd birthday about 2:45 p.m. in an exam room on the second floor of a medical building at 520 Superior Ave., near Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

The shooting was apparently during Elkus' first appointment with Gilbert, Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said.

According to prosecutors, Elkus went to Gilbert's office armed with a handgun and waited for the doctor to come in. Gilbert was shot multiple times in the chest, and was pronounced dead at the scene. -- City News Service