A man accused of killing a Santa Cruz woman over 2 years ago, and keeping her body in his East Cliff apartment for nearly 3 weeks, was found guilty of murder today. Jurors convicted 66-year old John Bruce Clauer after 4 hours of deliberation in the death of Heather Stearns in April 2011. Prosecutors say Stearns, a 1999 Santa Cruz High School graduate, was strangled and stomped to death. Neighbors claim they heard Stearns cry out for help the night of the murder, but didn’t call police until 2 weeks later about a terrible smell coming from Clauer’s apartment. Stearn’s body was found wrapped in blankets on his bed. He faces 25-years to life in prison.
