In a chilling tale of betrayal and murder, local theater actor Daniel Waznjak orchestrated a double homicide while maintaining the facade of a dedicated performer. Just days before his wedding, Waznjak, facing financial ruin, executed a plan to kill his friend Sam Hair, a 26-year-old army veteran, and later ambushed Julie Kibuishi, a college student who trusted him. This horrific crime unfolded behind the scenes of the Liberty Theater in Costa Mesa, where Waznjak was simultaneously captivating audiences on stage.
On May 21, 2010, Waznjak lured Hair to the theater under the pretense of helping him move boxes. In a shocking act of treachery, he shot Hair twice in the head, stole his belongings, and then manipulated the situation to make it appear as though Hair was a fugitive. Waznjak’s deceitful plan escalated when he invited Kibuishi to the scene, where he murdered her too, staging her death to frame Hair for the crimes.
Despite successfully hiding the bodies initially, Waznjak’s plan began to unravel when investigators traced Hair’s stolen debit card, leading them to Waznjak. Authorities apprehended him at his bachelor party, where he appeared unfazed by the gravity of his actions. As police pieced together the evidence, including a confession from Waznjak, it became clear that his desperate quest for financial security had led to a gruesome outcome.
The prosecution characterized Waznjak as a “calculating killer,” and the jury swiftly convicted him in what became one of the fastest verdicts in Orange County history. He was sentenced to death, while his fiancée, Rachel Buffett, received a shorter sentence for her role in the cover-up. Currently, Waznjak remains on death row, though California’s moratorium on the death penalty means his execution is indefinitely postponed.
This case serves as a haunting reminder of how ordinary individuals can harbor dark intentions, shattering lives and leaving a community in shock.
