A Eureka man who pleaded guilty to stabbing four strangers — two of them fatally — was sentenced to serve four life sentences in prison today by Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran. According to a press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Wesley Lee Starritt, 26, had pleaded guilty to murdering […]
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Court Rejects Zoellner Appeal
The United States’ Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling finding Arcata police had probable cause to arrest Kyle Zoellner on suspicion of murdering David Josiah Lawson, rejecting Zoellner’s claim for damages against the city. The unanimous ruling filed Tuesday rejects all five of Zoellner’s legal arguments, upholding the October 2022 […]
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EPD Investigating Stabbing Death
The Eureka Police Department is investigating the stabbing death of a woman in the 100 block of W Sonoma Street yesterday evening. Police responded to a 911 call there at 6:37 p.m. reporting a woman was in a fight with the male friend of her roommate. The arrived to find both the woman and man […]
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Vigil Today to Mark Fifth Anniversary of Josiah Lawson’s Killing, Arcata Police Renew Call for Witnesses to Come Forward
Today, on the fifth anniversary of the still unsolved killing of David Josiah Lawson, his mother is holding a 4 p.m. candlelight vigil at the courthouse to call for justice for her son and the Arcata Police Department is once again putting out the call for witnesses to come forward. “It is paramount that witnesses […]
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Man Already in Custody Arrested in 2017 Eureka Murder
A man once described by former Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson as “a possible serial killer in the making” has been arrested on suspicion of killing a man who was stabbed to death in 2017 while sleeping in an alley. Wesley Lee Starritt, 23, has been formally charged for the murder of 56-year-old Charles “Chuckie” […]
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Arcata Man Convicted in Fatal Stabbing
A 29-year-old Arcata man is facing life in prison after a jury found him guilty of first degree murder and two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon involving two different incidents in which he approached strangers outside of local bars. The verdict was reached yesterday after a months-long trial, according to the Humboldt […]
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UPDATE: Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder, One of the Boys Stabbed Flown Out of the Area
UPDATE: One of the two boys stabbed today has been flown out of the area for treatment and the 29-year-old woman suspected of inflicting the injuries has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault and other charges. According to an update from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the boys are in stable condition and […]
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Man Fatally Stabbed in Arcata Identified
The Arcata Police Department identified the man fatally stabbed during an early morning fight Sunday as Eureka resident Luis Enrique Pinel Zelaya. The 29 year old was killed during an incident that began outside of the Arcata Theater Lounge when he reportedly confronted another man that he had a “beef” with and stabbed him, Arcata […]
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Man Fatally Stabbed in Chaotic Arcata Fight
Arcata police are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred at about 1:20 this morning. Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn said the incident began outside the Arcata Theater Lounge on G Street when a man confronted another man he’d had a “beef” with and stabbed him. The fight moved into the 600 block of 10th Street […]
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Lawson Civil Trial Pushed Back
The trial date for Charmaine Lawson’s civil lawsuit alleging the city of Arcata violated her constitutional rights by inadequately and incompetently investigating the 2017 stabbing death of her son has been pushed back to late this year. The case — in which Lawson alleges racism and discrimination contributed to the city’s “deliberately indifferent” policies, practices, […]
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Arcata Man Arrested in Eureka Stabbing
The Eureka Police Department has arrested an Arcata man on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a September stabbing near West Third and Commercial streets. The victim, a 50-year-old man, suffered multiple wounds and is still recovering. According to a news release, detectives arrested Tory Tasi Parker Mamea, 27, at his residence today “based […]
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Stabbing in Arcata Last Night
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a stabbing in Arcata last night. According to the report, a 28-year-old man was stabbed while riding his skateboard by two unknown suspects on Upper Bay Road. He was transported to a local hospital by a friend and is expected to survive his injuries. The stabbing […]