Filmmaker, Rescuer of Orphans John Upton Killed in Encinitas Shooting

A 61-year-old man was behind bars today on suspicion of gunning down a North County documentary filmmaker outside the victim's home following a months-long dispute over foliage in the neighborhood.

Michael Vilkin of Encinitas was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on Thursday, hours after he allegedly shot Olivenhain resident John Upton, who gained notoriety for his crusade to rescue Romanian orphans during the communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu.

Upton, 56, died on a dirt path in his yard in the 2900 block of Lone Jack Road shortly after 9 a.m.

After being questioned by detectives, Vilkin was booked into Vista Detention Center, where he was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

The slaying evidently resulted from a running dispute between the two men, said sheriff's Lt. James Bolwerk, who declined to elaborate.

In a jailhouse interview, the suspect, who owns a vacant lot next to Upton's property, told 10News he fired the fatal shots in self-defense.

Vilkin told the television station he was trimming shrubbery -- an activity that he called the source of the ill will between the men -- when Upton confronted him and demanded that he stop, then pulled a gun. The suspect said he shot the filmmaker in the abdomen and head with a .44-caliber Magnum pistol to protect himself.

"I did not go to him," Vilkin said. "He came to me threatening and pulled a gun (on) me. I did not go to him. I stayed (following the shooting)."

Upton's brother praised his late sibling as "a good man" who "saved a lot of kids."

"Here's a guy who went into a communist country and basically didn't allow himself to get bullied by the government or corrupt people over there," Michael Upton told U-T San Diego. "And he took these kids who were crippled from birth defects from (attempted abortions), and brought them back to the United States to get medical care and get adopted. My brother was a fearless crusader."

The filmmaker, a father of three, showed video footage of the orphans to couples and succeeded in getting dozens of the children adopted. He also gained the attention of influential activists, inspiring billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson, actress Jessica Lange and lawmakers to help rescue some 5,000 youngsters from Romania.

Upton went on to create Media4aCause, an online network of films about charitable causes featuring many of his works along with those of other directors.

—City News Service. 

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