Accused Newport Doctor Killer Pleads Not Guilty

A Lake Elsinore man accused of killing a Newport Beach urologist and father pleaded not guilty to murder Friday.

Stanwood Fred Elkus, a 75-year-old retired barber, entered his not guilty plea to one felony count of special circumstances murder by lying in wait and faces a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm causing death in connection with the Jan. 28 slaying of Dr. Ronald Gilbert in a medical exam office in Newport Beach.

If convicted, Elkus faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to return to court on June 6 for a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors allege Elkus walked onto the second floor of the Hoag Medical Group building at 520 Superior Ave. on the afternoon of Jan. 28 for an appointment with Gilbert. When Gilbert walked into the room, prosecutors say Elkus shot the doctor multiple times in the torso.

Some of Gilbert's colleagues ran to the exam room and tried to revive him, but the doctor was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the shooting Elkus gave the gun to an office worker and surrendered to police. Neighbors of Elkus said he was a nice man who was anguished over prostate surgery that left him with embarrassing incontinence.

Gilbert was 52-years-old. He lived in Huntington Beach with his wife and their two teenage boys.