Suspected serial killer of homeless a "thrill seeker," Calif. prosecutors say

(CBS/AP) SANTA ANA, Calif. - An Iraq war veteran charged with fatally stabbing four homeless men in Southern California was reportedly a "thrill seeker" who took pleasure in killing his victims, the prosecution said Wednesday.

The suspect, 23-year-old Itzcoatl Ocampo, appeared calm and intelligent and showed no sign of mental illness, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told reporters outside a jailhouse courtroom.

Ocampo made his first court appearance Wednesday morning wearing an orange jumpsuit. The judge discussed plans to delay his arraignment until Feb. 17 at the request of Ocampo's lawyer.

"He gets a thrill out of it," Prosecutor Rackauckas said. "This is a serious, vicious killer who went out there intentionally going about killing people and terrorizing a whole area."

After the hearing, defense attorney Randall Longwith declined to comment on the allegations and said his main concern was getting to see Ocampo, who was being held in a medical ward and denied visitors.

"We're just concerned that he hasn't really had access to an attorney or to anyone at this point," Longwith told reporters. "He seems very scared."

Ocampo was arrested Friday night after bystanders chased him down after a man was stabbed to death outside a fast-food restaurant outside of Los Angeles. He was caught with blood on his hands and face, police said.

Ocampo was charged Tuesday with four counts of murder and special allegations of multiple murders and using a deadly weapon.

Three victims were stabbed more than 40 times, each with a single-edged blade, authorities said. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in prison. It is undecided whether authorities will seek the death penalty.

A psychological evaluation will be given to Ocampo and he is being held in isolation and monitored around the clock to prevent him from harming himself or others.

Ocampo's family said he was troubled after he returned from Iraq in 2008.