Murder cases delayed until next month

Greg Risling

Two cases in which the accused are suspected of killing their spouses

were delayed Friday until next month.

Leslie VanHouten, 40, didn’t enter a plea to charges she ran over her

estranged husband, who was riding his bike near Hoag Hospital earlier

this month. Police said VanHouten was driving the family car when she ran

over her husband, then put the car in reverse, striking him again.

Kenneth VanHouten was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Family friends have created a trust fund that will benefitthe three

VanHouten children while their mother remains incarcerated. Friends are

also trying to figure out what will happen to the couple’s mobile home in

West Newport.

Some friends said VanHouten was trapped in a bad marriage and suffered

from her husband’s emotional abuse. Kenneth VanHouten, however, filed for

divorce last month.

Her arraignment was delayed until March 10.

Also postponed was the highly anticipated first hearing for 32-year-old

Eric Bechler. He is accused of killing his wife three years ago on a

boating trip. The couple was celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary

off the Newport Beach coast. Bechler returned from the trip alone. His

wife, 38-year-old Pegye Bechler, was never found.

Authorities believe Bechler may have used a dumbbell weight to kill his

wife and then dumped her body overboard. Investigators compiled evidence

against Bechler for two years before arresting him last November. They

initially held him on a probation violation but later charged him with

the murder of his wife. Bechler reportedly made incriminating statements

to his girlfriend, who cooperated with authorities and wore a recording

device.

Bechler’s mother attended Friday’s quick court motions to delay the

preliminary hearing. She refused to talk about her son’s case.

Defense attorney John Barnett also didn’t comment on the case, but said

the hearing won’t be delayed again.

“We’ll be ready to go on March 10,” Barnett said.