A 76-year-old attorney, David Replogle, will spend the rest of his life in prison for his involvement in the 2008 murder of Clifford Lambert, an art dealer and Palm Springs socialite. Replogle was convicted nearly two years ago and sentenced to life in prison on Friday. The Riverside District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing in a press release.
The Crime and Conviction
Replogle was one of six people involved in the murder of Lambert, aged 74, on December 5, 2008. The group stabbed Lambert to death at his home, then transported his body to a mountainside in Los Angeles, where they buried it. Authorities later discovered Lambert’s remains, including his jawbone and skull, which were positively identified.
Prosecutors revealed that Replogle, a practicing attorney at the time, used his legal credentials to forge power of attorney documents. This allowed the conspirators to steal $185,000 from Lambert’s bank accounts and gain access to his home and art collection. Replogle was found guilty of eight felonies, including first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, burglary, grand theft, identity theft, and forgery.
A Long Legal Battle
Replogle was originally convicted in 2010, but his verdict was thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct. According to the press release, this misconduct stemmed from a judge’s alleged comment about not wanting to touch an envelope because one of the co-defendants was HIV positive. This led to a new trial, but multiple motions for a retrial were denied over the years.
Earlier this year, Replogle maintained his innocence, stating in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter that he was unable to call important witnesses during his trial who could have made a difference in his case. He went as far as to compare the situation to Putin’s Russia, a comment he made during the interview.
Co-Defendants and Their Sentences
Replogle wasn’t the only one involved in this horrific crime. Kaushal Niroula, Daniel Garcia, Miguel Bustamante, Craig McCarthy, and Russell Manning were also convicted for their roles in the murder.
Manning and Niroula died after their convictions.
Garcia and Bustamante were both sentenced to life in prison.
McCarthy, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, agreed to testify against the other men and is eligible for parole next year.
David Replogle’s sentencing marks the end of a long legal battle, but the case serves as a chilling reminder of the lengths some will go to for money and power. As he spends the rest of his life in prison, the justice system has delivered a final verdict for the murder of Clifford Lambert, bringing some measure of closure to the case.
