Prisoner to Be Charged in Hot Tub Strangling

A 28-year-old Los Angeles man already facing trial on kidnaping and robbery counts will be charged today with killing a Studio City businesswoman whose body was found three months ago in her backyard hot tub, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

The man, Stephen Vulpis, will be charged with four counts including murder during the commission of robbery and burglary, a special circumstances allegation that could lead to the death penalty if Vulpis is convicted, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michelle R. Rosenblatt said.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Van Nuys Municipal Court, Rosenblatt said.

The victim, Heidi Katlan Scarbrough, 34, the owner of an executive recruiting business, was found dead May 7, floating in the hot tub of her home in the 3800 block of Ridgemoor Drive. She was strangled after apparently surprising a burglar in her house, authorities said.

Ordered to Stand Trial

Vulpis, who has been ordered to stand trial in Santa Monica on burglary charges and in Los Angeles on robbery and kidnaping charges, was arrested May 15 on suspicion of robbing a clothing store in West Los Angeles at gunpoint and then fleeing in a Rapid Transit District bus, Rosenblatt said.

During police questioning about that robbery, “detectives discovered his complicity” in the Scarbrough killing, Rosenblatt said.

Vulpis has been held without bail at County Jail since his arrest.

He will be charged with two counts of robbery and one count each of murder and burglary in the Studio City case, Rosenblatt said.