🚨 Imagine losing control at 104 mph on a deadly curve… and four bright futures shatter in seconds. Now, the driver behind the wheel is fighting to erase “murder” from his charges—claiming it was all just a tragic mistake. What do YOU think justice looks like? Dive deeper into this heartbreaking case and the legal battle unfolding:

In a courtroom packed with grieving family members and supporters, the legal team for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old accused of killing four Pepperdine University sorority sisters in a high-speed crash nearly two years ago, filed a motion this week to drop the murder charges against him. Bohm’s attorneys argue that the second-degree murder counts are “grossly overcharged” and lack sufficient evidence of implied malice, a key element required under California law for such a conviction. The move has reignited public fury over the October 17, 2023, tragedy on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), a notorious stretch of road dubbed “Dead Man’s Curve” for its history of deadly accidents.

Bohm, a Malibu native and former student at the elite Oaks Christian School, faces four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with the deaths of Niamh Rolston, 20; Peyton Stewart, 21; Asha Weir, 21; and Deslyn Williams, 21. All four victims were seniors at Pepperdine’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts and active members of the Alpha Phi sorority, known on campus for their close-knit bond and vibrant spirits. The young women had pulled over on the shoulder of westbound PCH after attending a campus event, stepping out to stretch and chat under the starry coastal sky. What should have been a carefree evening ended in unimaginable horror when Bohm’s black BMW 3 Series barreled through the 45 mph zone at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

According to prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Bohm lost control of his vehicle around 8:30 p.m., swerving onto the shoulder and slamming into at least three parked cars. The impact propelled the stationary vehicles into the group of pedestrians, striking the four sorority sisters fatally. Two other individuals—a 75-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman—suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the chaos. Bohm emerged from the wreckage unscathed, passing a field sobriety test at the scene, though authorities later confirmed no alcohol or drugs were factors. Instead, the case hinges on reckless speeding, with data from the car’s black box and witness statements painting a picture of deliberate high-velocity driving on a road long plagued by safety concerns.

The crash site, just four miles east of Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, is no stranger to tragedy. PCH’s “Dead Man’s Curve”—a sharp, unlit bend flanked by ocean cliffs and rocky bluffs—has claimed dozens of lives over the decades, prompting repeated calls for barriers, better lighting, and speed enforcement from local activists and lawmakers. In the wake of this incident, families of the victims filed lawsuits against the city of Malibu, Los Angeles County, and the state of California, alleging negligence in maintaining the highway’s dangerous conditions. “This wasn’t just a road; it was a ticking time bomb,” said one attorney representing the Rolston family in a 2024 civil filing, echoing sentiments from community leaders who have pushed for federal funding to install median barriers and rumble strips.

For the victims’ loved ones, the personal toll remains raw. Niamh Rolston, a communications major from Seattle with dreams of a career in public relations, was remembered by her mother, Siobhan Rolston, as “the light of our family—always laughing, always lifting others up.” Peyton Stewart, hailing from Florida, was an aspiring physician’s assistant whose infectious energy made her a sorority standout. Asha Weir, a Texas native studying business, bonded with her sisters over late-night study sessions and beach bonfires. Deslyn Williams, from Louisiana, brought a fierce determination to her psychology pursuits, often volunteering at local shelters. Their deaths left a void at Pepperdine, where the university established the “Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship” in their honor, awarding funds to female students demonstrating leadership and compassion.

Pepperdine President Jim Gash addressed the campus in the days following the crash, calling it “a profound loss that shakes us to our core.” Vigils lit up the Malibu cliffs, with hundreds gathering in Alpha Phi colors—pink and white—to share stories and demand change. Social media exploded with #JusticeForNiamhPeytonAshaDeslyn, blending tributes with frustration over road safety. One viral post from a fellow sorority member read: “They were walking home from a night of joy. No one should die for that.”

Bohm’s path to the courtroom has been marked by privilege and scrutiny. Raised in a well-off Malibu family—his father a real estate developer—the 6-foot-3 former varsity baseball player attended a private prep school costing upwards of $30,000 annually. He was 22 at the time of the crash, with no prior criminal record or traffic violations, a fact his initial attorney, Michael Kraut, emphasized in early hearings. “This is a young man with a spotless history who made a catastrophic error, not a murderer,” Kraut argued during a 2024 preliminary hearing. Bohm posted $4 million bail shortly after his arrest in October 2023 and has remained out of custody, complying with GPS monitoring and travel restrictions.

The case took a dramatic turn in August 2025 when Bohm hired high-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson, fresh off securing an acquittal for Karen Read in a Massachusetts murder trial involving the death of a Boston police officer. Jackson, who once prosecuted music mogul Phil Spector for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson, wasted no time shaking up the proceedings. At Bohm’s arraignment on August 6, 2025, Jackson entered a not-guilty plea on all counts and successfully requested a continuance until September 5. He also petitioned to reduce bail, citing Bohm’s clean record and community ties, but Superior Court Judge Thomas Rubinson denied the motion, maintaining the $4 million figure.

Fast-forward to October 8, 2025: Bohm appeared virtually before Judge Rubinson in Van Nuys Superior Court for a hearing on the defense’s latest motion—a 20-page filing seeking dismissal of the murder charges under Penal Code Section 995. The document, co-signed by Jackson and associate counsel, contends that prosecutors have failed to establish “implied malice”—the legal threshold for second-degree murder, which requires proof of conscious disregard for human life beyond mere negligence. “The People’s theory is thoroughly lacking in legal support,” the motion states, pointing to the absence of evidence like prior warnings about the road’s dangers or Bohm’s alleged intent to harm. Defense experts, including accident reconstruction specialists, argue the crash resulted from a momentary lapse—perhaps overcorrection after swerving to avoid debris—rather than sustained recklessness warranting murder.

Prosecutors, led by Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos, counter that Bohm’s speed alone—clocked at 104 mph via vehicle telemetry—demonstrates a blatant indifference to safety on a pedestrian-heavy highway at night. “He treated PCH like a racetrack, knowing full well the risks,” Bartos told reporters outside court, referencing witness accounts of Bohm weaving aggressively before the collision. The DA’s office upgraded the charges from initial gross vehicular manslaughter just a week after the crash, citing the egregious velocity and the foreseeability of harm. If convicted on the murder counts, Bohm could face 15 years to life per count, potentially totaling over 60 years behind bars. Manslaughter convictions carry up to 16 years each.

The hearing drew a tense crowd, including sorority sisters and family members who have attended every proceeding since 2023. Bridget Thompson, a close friend of the victims and fellow Alpha Phi member, told reporters, “We’ve sat through this nightmare for two years, watching him live freely while our sisters are gone. Dropping these charges feels like another slap.” Emotions ran high as one relative clutched photos of the young women, their smiles frozen in time. Online, the story trended under hashtags like #NoJusticeNoPeace, with users decrying perceived leniency for affluent defendants. “Rich kid gets a Ferrari pass?” one X post quipped, garnering thousands of likes.

This isn’t the first time the defense has challenged the prosecution’s narrative. During April 2025 preliminary hearings, Kraut—before Jackson’s involvement—presented dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle showing Bohm attempting evasive maneuvers seconds before impact. He accused investigators of hasty charging, claiming they ignored exculpatory evidence like Bohm’s immediate cooperation and lack of flight risk. Superior Court Judge Diego Edber ultimately bound Bohm over for trial on May 7, 2025, ruling there was probable cause on all counts. Arraignment followed on July 1, setting the stage for what could be a months-long jury trial.

Beyond the criminal case, civil ramifications continue to unfold. The victims’ families secured a confidential settlement from BMW in late 2024 over alleged defects in the car’s stability systems, though details remain sealed. Parallel suits against government entities seek millions for failing to address PCH’s hazards, including inadequate signage and enforcement. Malibu City Councilman Steve Uhring, a longtime advocate, noted in a recent interview, “This crash was preventable. We’ve lost too many to indifference.” State Sen. Henry Stern has introduced legislation for $50 million in highway safety upgrades, invoking the sorority sisters’ names as a rallying cry.

As Bohm’s motion hangs in the balance— with a ruling expected within weeks—the case underscores broader debates on reckless driving, class disparities in justice, and infrastructure accountability. For the defense, it’s about proportionality: a tragic accident, not premeditated evil. For prosecutors and the bereaved, it’s a stark reminder that speed kills, and accountability must match the devastation. “These weren’t statistics; they were daughters, sisters, friends,” Weir’s father, Michael, said outside court. “We won’t let their light fade quietly.”

The road ahead remains uncertain, much like the curve where it all ended. Judge Rubinson has scheduled a status conference for November 2025, but with Jackson’s star power, appeals and plea negotiations loom large. In the meantime, Pepperdine’s campus honors its lost angels through scholarships and safety campaigns, turning sorrow into subtle safeguards. As one memorial plaque on the cliffs reads: “In their memory, drive gently.”