Police Chief's Letter on Three Recent Deaths in Sebastopol

Community information release regarding death investigations

By Chief Ron Nelson

Since late March of 2023, the City of Sebastopol has experienced three deaths in our community, two of which involved unhoused individuals.  These numbers of deaths in a community are not necessarily unusual, as people do pass away regularly and often don’t garner much attention.

However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths have caused concern in our community which has created quite a bit of speculation, rumor mongering, and conspiracy theories, particularly amongst our vulnerable homeless population.

Due to privacy concerns, respect for the surviving family members and the sensitive nature of the deaths, coupled with the fact that one of the deaths is still being investigated and awaiting forensic results, detailed information has not been released which has fueled additional speculation.  To help calm fears and quash many of the rumors that are circulating, I am releasing this information in the hope it will help calm fears amongst the public and to provide some factual clarity regarding these incidents.

While reviewing the facts surrounding these incidents, please keep in mind that the Sebastopol Police Department does not take any death investigation lightly.  Our primary focus during these investigations is to start from a place where we presume there may be foul play or criminal activity involved. That presumption is maintained until information or evidence is gathered to absolutely determine and rule out that there was no foul play.  Each case is investigated thoroughly without bias as we owe it to every decedent and their loved ones to give our best effort and use every resource we have available to reach an accurate conclusion.  

On March 24, 2023, the Sebastopol Police Department responded to a call at the Sebastopol Community Church regarding a person who may be deceased.  Officers arrived and found a 52-year-old woman, with a ligature around her neck that was attached to a tree. Officers conducted a complete investigation, interviewed witnesses and any potential involved parties.  The evidence at the scene, coupled with the investigative facts conclusively showed that the woman had sadly opted to commit suicide.  The case and evidence were forwarded to the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office who reached the same conclusion after their examination and forensic analysis.

On April 23, 2023, SPD officers were summoned to an area in the Laguna de Santa Rosa within the city limits regarding similar circumstances.  A person found a 47-year-old woman was found with a ligature attached to her neck with the other end attached to a fallen tree.  Officers interviewed the person that found the deceased and conducted a thorough investigation regarding the circumstances.  Evidence at the scene again was conclusive that the woman had apparently chose to take her own life.  The coroner also conducted an independent investigation regarding the death.  The forensic examination and evidence evaluated by the coroner had them reach the conclusion that the death was a suicide. 

The short timelines between these two incidents, coupled with the similar circumstances led people in the homeless community to be fearful.  Rumors began to spread that somebody may be targeting them.  The rumors continued circulating even though the Sebastopol Police Department had been in communication with various homeless service providers, as well as with Horizon Shine, regarding the facts with these incidents.  The rumors have now spread to a wider swath of our community which has caused speculation that something nefarious has been taking place, which could not be further from the truth.

Further complicating the situation, the Sebastopol Police Department responded to a death investigation regarding a 20-year-old female on April 12, 2023.  The death of a person so young naturally raises suspicions and questions surrounding the circumstances.  An intensive, thorough investigation that required many interviews, the establishing of timelines and activities prior to the woman’s death was immediately implemented and took several days.  Officers literally worked around the clock during the initial stages of the investigation.  Sebastopol Police Officers kept in communication with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office during the investigation regarding any potential criminal aspects to the case.

At this juncture, the cause of death for the woman is unknown.  The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office has not concluded their analysis and is still awaiting some additional toxicology results.  We can state at this time that the woman did not die directly at the hands of another person.  All persons who she had interactions with, in the hours prior to her death, have been interviewed.  Their statements and evidence are consistent with the fact that none of those persons did anything which directly caused the death. In other words, none of those persons are suspected of committing a crime which caused the death of another.

When the coroner’s investigation is concluded, a press release will be prepared detailing the findings.

I want to assure the public that though tragic, these incidents are in no way connected.  There is not an individual in our community who is randomly committing criminal acts causing the deaths of people and there is no public safety threat to our homeless population or any other persons in our community.  Sadly, we just happen to have experienced these events in our community in a short period of time which is distressing to all of us and has fueled unsubstantiated rumors and fear. 

Tragically, the suicide rate amongst homeless people is nearly 10 times greater than in the overall population (Homeless – 112.5 per 100,000; General Population – 12.5 per 100,00). Sadly, the two homeless women who took their own lives made a choice which cannot be reversed.  But we are certain that these were suicides and cannot be attributed to any other factors.

Our society is experiencing unprecedented rates of mental illness, depression, and sadly suicide.  Let these incidents serve as a reminder that if you, a loved one, a friend, or an acquaintance, express suicidal thoughts, are depressed, or just seem to need some help, say something!  Reach out to available resources and provide them with the information to get help.  The State of California Warm Line has resources available by phoning 1-855-845-7415; or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988.  You can also call the Sebastopol Police Department at 707-829-4400 for information and help, or 911 for urgent help.  As the saying goes…If you see something, say something and call.  You may be saving a life!