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Update: The arraignment of Michael McClish was postponed to May 22 when he appeared in court Thursday, May 8. Attorneys are working out who will represent him. In his sexual assault trial last year, McClish challenged the adequacy of his representation by the public defender.
 Flanked by a photo of the slain Joanna “Asha” Veil, Sheriff’s Lt. Phil Wowak (at podium) discusses the case with reporters. With him are Assistant District Attorney Jeff Rosell (from left), Sheriff’s Sgt. Mario Sulay, Sheriff Steve Robbins, Wowak and District Attorney Bob Lee. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner
Veil, who was 28 when she died, was strangled and bludgeoned before her body was dumped off a remote stretch of Love Creek Road in Ben Lomond, Sheriff’s Lt. Phil Wowak told a news conference. The cause of her death, the nature of the evidence and virtually every other detail of the case had been closely held secrets since the discovery of Veil’s body Sept. 12, 2006. Officials still turned away questions about what evidence they have. District Attorney Bob Lee said the details will come out in court. Lee said he will assume a personal role in the prosecution, along with Assistant District Attorney Jeff Rosell. McClish was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, May 8, before Superior Court Judge Samuel Stevens. Lee said his office will ask for a no-bail ruling. The charges could result in a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole, he said. McClish, 49, who lived in Ben Lomond, is already serving a sentence of 18 years, 8 months to life for a sexual assault conviction unrelated to the killings. Rosell was the prosecutor in that case. McClish is appealing the conviction and has denied any role in the double homicide. “Michael McClish had both a motive and the opportunity to commit these murders,” Wowak said. “Evidence has led us to believe Michael McClish is responsible.” Sheriff’s Sgt. Mario Sulay disclosed that DNA testing showed that the father of Veil’s unborn daughter was her husband, Richard Veil. The pair had been separated but remained friends. Richard Veil could not be reached this week, and a member of McClish’s family in San Lorenzo Valley declined to comment, saying family members needed time by themselves. After Veil failed to show up for work at Ben Lomond Market on Sept. 9, 2006, co-workers posted flyers and called authorities. Her car was found nearby, and her body was discovered by a woman walking her dog Sept. 12. Wowak said McClish and Veil had a meeting shortly before she disappeared, and McClish fabricated an alibi when questioned. Officials wouldn’t say anything more about anyone’s statements to investigators. Asked why the case took so long to investigate, Wowak, the head of sheriff’s investigations, said his department “wanted to do the best possible job we can.” The homicides had cast a cloud over San Lorenzo Valley. Both McClish and Veil worked at the market, and other employees were said to have been saddened, as were many customers who had known the popular cashier. “San Lorenzo Valley has been deeply affected by these crimes,” Sheriff Steve Robbins acknowledged. “We never stopped working on this case.” Officials said thousands of hours have been spent on the case by the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices and state Department of Justice crime labs. State criminalists worked with investigators on forensic evidence, including DNA samples. McClish was arrested and moved from Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad to Santa Cruz County Jail. The sexual assault case in which he was convicted came to light during the Veil investigation, when a market employee being interviewed told an investigator she had been assaulted. To comment on this story, e-mail
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I want to say: Thank You To Everyone That made this case important and let Her and Her daughter rest in peace.
We miss her here in New York.