MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. — More than three decades after the brutal killings of two Monterey County residents, justice has finally been served. On August 26, 2025, a Monterey County jury found 86-year-old Ira Ulyesses Bastian guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 1991 slayings of 67-year-old George Smith and his mother-in-law, 79-year-old Eva Thompson.
The double homicide occurred on November 11, 1991, shocking the community and sparking an investigation that would stretch across decades. At the time, Bastian was 52 years old. Though he was identified as a suspect early on, investigators lacked the forensic evidence needed to secure charges.
Early Investigation and Evidence
Detectives determined that the victims had been attacked near a restaurant, where signs of forced entry were discovered. Bastian, who denied being near the restaurant in the year leading up to the murders, became a person of interest when his then-girlfriend provided investigators with a pair of his shoes.
Those shoes were later linked to impressions found in the backyard of the restaurant—believed to be the suspect’s entry point. Despite the strong circumstantial evidence, prosecutors in 1991 did not move forward with charges due to the limits of available forensic science.
Breakthrough with DNA Technology
For decades, the case remained cold, with investigators continuing to preserve and re-examine evidence. Over the past several years, advancements in DNA testing technology allowed the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to resubmit crucial pieces of evidence, including the shoes, a knife handle, and articles of clothing belonging to victim Eva Thompson.
In 2024 and 2025, new DNA results provided the breakthrough investigators had been waiting for: the genetic material linked Bastian directly to the crime scene and to items connected to the murders. Armed with this evidence, authorities arrested Bastian in Fresno on July 15, 2024.
Conviction and Sentencing
Following a weeks-long trial, the jury convicted Bastian on two counts of first-degree murder. He now faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Sheriff’s Statement
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto praised the work of investigators and prosecutors who never gave up on the case:
“The persistence and dedication of our Monterey County Sheriff’s investigators, working alongside the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Cold Case Task Force, brought justice to a case that remained unresolved for more than three decades. Their determination ensured that George Smith and Eva Thompson’s families now have closure. After 33 years, this conviction stands as a reminder that we never stop pursuing justice for victims and their loved ones.”
The successful conviction highlights the critical role of evolving forensic science in solving cold cases and underscores law enforcement’s long-standing commitment to justice, no matter how much time has passed.
For more information and updates, the full press release is available at: mcso.countyofmonterey.gov/press-releases.
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