FULLERTON, CA – A California man, Frank Sato Felix, 33, received three consecutive life sentences for his involvement in a triple homicide stemming from a disturbing obsession with a teenage girl he met within the “furry” community nearly nine years ago. Felix was convicted last year of first-degree murder and other charges related to the murders.
The victims included 39-year-old Jennifer Goodwill-Yost, her husband, 35-year-old Christopher Yost, and their friend, Arthur “Billy” Boucher, who was staying with them on the night of the murders. Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the life sentences, which were handed down by a judge on Friday.
Frank Felix expressed remorse in a brief statement during sentencing, suggesting he wished he could replace the victims with himself. However, the weight of his crimes, driven by an unhealthy fixation on the girl, undeniably altered many lives forever.
Prosecutors detailed how Felix, at the time 25, met the girl in the “furry” subculture, where attendees dress in animal costumes after her mother introduced her to the scene. The relationship between Felix and the girl, described as obsessive, was opposed by her parents, leading Felix to concoct a violent plot with Joshua Charles Acosta, an Army mechanic, and Felix’s accomplice.
On the night of September 24, 2016, Felix and Acosta went to the Yost residence in Fullerton. After the family went to sleep, Acosta entered the home with a shotgun provided by Felix. Acosta first shot Boucher, who was asleep on the couch and then proceeded to the master bedroom, shooting Goodwill-Yost. Christopher Yost was killed while attempting to flee.
In the aftermath, Felix, Acosta, and the girl returned to Felix’s Sun Valley home, where they attempted to destroy evidence by burning clothes and phones. The Yosts’ young daughters were left to discover the bodies, prompting them to call 911.
Felix’s partner in crime, Acosta, was apprehended shortly after the incident. He was convicted of first-degree murder charges in 2018 and similarly sentenced to life in prison.
The girl, now an adult, testified during Acosta’s trial, claiming she was unaware of the murder plan. She accused her stepfather of long-term abuse, an allegation Felix reportedly used to manipulate her. Despite the complexities of her testimony, prosecutors decided not to charge her with any wrongdoing related to the murders.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer remarked on the deep trauma inflicted on the young daughters, who lost both parents in such a brutal manner, emphasizing that violence is never the solution and resulted in severe consequences for the perpetrators.
The saga leaves a community grappling with the tragic intersection of obsession, manipulation, and a deadly plot that shattered a family and left two little girls without their parents.
