Laguna police nab Nicholson murder suspect

By Michael Webster: Nov 19, 2009 10:00 AM PST

Murder suspect Matthew Thomas Dragna. DMV photo

Lake Forest man Matthew Thomas Dragna, 19 is accused of killing Laguna Beach resident Damon Nicholson, beating him to death with a blunt object in his home Oct. 23. during home robbery.

According to police Dragna has a history of drug use and burglary arrests.

Laguna Beach Police arrested the suspect and he was taken into custody late Weds at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Ana, after evidence allegedly linked him to the crime Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The two knew each other, and Kravetz said that Nicholson may have invited Dragna to his home.

Nicholson, met Dragna through a website and had developed a relationship, Kravetz said. Dragna allegedly took several items from Nicholson's home, including a laptop computer, clothing and a cell phone. Some of those items have been found at Dragna's home.

“He entered the home of Damon Nicholson in the early morning hours and bludgeoned the victim and fled with numerous items,” Kravetz said.

Police are trying to find Nicholson’s stolen Macintosh laptop computer, which they believe Dragna may have sold. Other items that were stolen include computer equipment, cell phones, and clothing, some of which has been recovered.

At Nicholson's home, investigators found an item that gave them Dragna's name and pointed that he may have been at the home during the killing, Kravetz said, though he would not specify what that item was.

"I don't know why he would have been there that day, but we were able to get his name through evidence at the scene," he said.

Police would also not specify through what website the two met, citing an ongoing investigation. Kravetz said he could not comment on whether the two had become romantically involved.

Police searched Dragna’s family home in Lake Forest and recovered key evidence in the case, Kravetz said.

Dragna may have met the victim recently, possibly over the Internet, Kravetz said.

The suspect is being held at the Laguna Beach city jail and will eventually be transferred to the Orange County Jail. Police are seeking first degree murder charges against him.

A memorial for Nicholson was held Nov. 13 at Tivoli Too in Laguna Beach.

Damon Nicholson

Officers with the Laguna Beach Police Department served two search warrants: one at Dragna's Lake Forest home and a second at a Santa Ana drug rehabilitation center, where Dragna had checked in Monday.

Police believe robbery may have been one of the motives behind the killing.

"We're very confident we have the right person," Kravetz said.

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