Already out on bail in one other felony case, a 19-year-old homicide suspect who prosecutors say admitted to harboring homicidal fantasies allegedly stalked and slaughtered beloved artist and author Rachell Summers, 73, in a random California assault.
Tyler Leibelt is accused of fatally stabbing Summers outdoors the Capitola Mall on Monday as she walked to the financial institution after choosing up her paycheck, based on courtroom paperwork filed by the Santa Cruz County District Legal professional’s Workplace in search of to maintain him behind bars with out bail.
Leibelt’s arraignment was delayed till July 29 after his attorneys requested a continuance.
He stays jailed with out bail.
The killing has devastated the native arts group, the place Summers spent seven years as gallery supervisor of Artwork of Santa Cruz.
“I’m the president [of the gallery], however she was my proper hand individual for positive, and obtained issues very organized and below management,” Heather Richman, president of Artwork of Santa Cruz and Summers’ good friend and supervisor, instructed The California Publish.
In accordance with prosecutors, Leibelt had been residing in a sober residing surroundings and took an Uber to Cabrillo School, the place he’s an accounting pupil, on Monday.
Whereas sitting within the school cafeteria, courtroom paperwork say Leibelt felt a long-standing “want to kill somebody.”
The paperwork say Leibelt instructed investigators it was a “performed deal” that he was going to kill somebody as soon as he turned off his cellphone as a result of he didn’t wish to be interrupted.
Prosecutors allege Leibelt then boarded a METRO bus to the Capitola Mall, the place he was actively searching for a sufferer earlier than coming into a Huge 5 Sporting Items retailer and buying two switchblade knives.
In accordance with the courtroom paperwork, Leibelt instructed detectives he purchased two knives as a result of he wished to carry one in every hand whereas killing somebody.
Investigators mentioned he demonstrated stabbing motions with each arms throughout questioning.
Courtroom paperwork say Leibelt had beforehand disclosed homicidal “fantasies” and that he “saved getting let loose” of custody.
The suspect was already free on bail awaiting trial in one other felony case when Summers was killed, a element that has intensified criticism from those that argue California’s felony justice system is just too lenient on harmful offenders.
Earlier than encountering Summers, Leibelt allegedly walked with an aged Asian man throughout the road and regarded attacking him however determined in opposition to it as a result of there have been too many automobiles close by and he believed the person may put up an excessive amount of of a combat, KSBW reported.
Prosecutors say Leibelt then noticed Summers close to the Capitola Mall driveway as she walked towards Dealer Joe’s on Clares Avenue.
He allegedly moved nearer, walked in a semicircle round Summers with a hid knife and allowed her to get forward so she wouldn’t understand she was being adopted.
Courtroom paperwork say he eliminated the knife from its packaging, chased Summers at full velocity and stabbed her within the again.
Summers suffered greater than 11 stab wounds, together with accidents to her again, defensive wounds to her forearms and wounds to the middle of her chest.
Prosecutors say Leibelt instructed investigators he heard Summers cry out, “Assist me.”
Richman mentioned the alleged randomness of the assault has been particularly troublesome for individuals who knew Summers.
“I perceive that it was only a child who simply purchased a knife and determined he wished to kill someone, and he picked someone at random.”
Summers was greater than only a sufferer to the Capitola group.
She was a beloved artist and author, a mom and grandmother, and a longtime fixture at Artwork of Santa Cruz.
She is survived by a daughter who lives within the space and a grandson.
She additionally shared her Capitola dwelling with her beloved cat, Ivy.
At the same time as artists mourned Summers, Richman mentioned they instantly stepped ahead to assist with take care of Ivy.
“Now we have a number of artists who’ve referred to as me and mentioned, ‘Hey, you realize, if there’s any any downside with the cat, that they’d take the cat.’”
The gallery plans to inform its artists about memorial preparations Saturday.
“Now we have about 60 artists, and I think about most of them will wish to attend this.”
The killing unfolded in Santa Cruz County, which ranks among the many wealthiest 3% nationwide and stands as certainly one of California’s most closely Democratic counties, based on state voter registration information.
Whereas the county’s unincorporated areas rank nicely beneath nationwide averages for crime, its tourist-heavy metropolis facilities see property crime spikes above the baseline.
