Mayor, Councilmember pledge push for systemic change after murder of Mary "Kate" Tibbitts

Friends,

The murder of Mary “Kate” Tibbitts, a well-loved resident of Land Park and a District 4 constituent, is a senseless tragedy. We mourn her death and the killing of her beloved dogs Molly and Ginny. We are thankful that first responders were dispatched quickly to her home when it was reported, and that the Sacramento Police Department has apprehended a suspect. But we’re frustrated and angry that this happened in the first place.

The suspect in this crime had been incarcerated as recently as June 2021, with a known addiction to methamphetamine and a history of violent offenses. We cannot simply release people from state prisons and county jails onto the streets without working harder to ensure that they are getting the treatment and services they desperately need to prevent them from harming themselves or others.

Further, based on his criminal history, we have serious concerns about how this individual was released from custody in the first place. He should not have been on the street.

Parole is under state jurisdiction, and jail and reentry services are under the Sacramento County Sheriff’s and County Probation’s jurisdiction. We are committed to working with our state and county partners to prevent another tragedy from happening in our community.

We have spoken to County Supervisor Phil Serna, who is pushing for mandated treatment for people exiting the prison system with known methamphetamine issues. We plan to support him fully in those efforts, as well as efforts to continue to fund programs that serve people with methamphetamine addictions, like the Substance Use Respite and Engagement (SURE) program located in District 4. We also need to keep pushing for reentry services that ensure people exiting the jail have access to housing and supportive services, making it easier for us to check in on them and reduce the likelihood of further criminal activity.

We will also be working with our state and county partners to review the facts of this case and others to ensure that people with a history of serious, violent offenses are not being released into our city with little review or accountability as to their whereabouts. In the days ahead we will hold the Land Park community, and particularly Kate's family and friends, in our hearts. We will work with residents on how we can all continue to enjoy the great quality of life in our neighborhoods and keep our families safe. We understand the profound anxiety and grief that this brutal killing has caused.

Our system is broken. We’re committed to continuing to work together to make this better for everyone.

Sincerely,

Mayor Darrell Steinberg

Councilmember Katie Valenzuela