Teens held in death of woman, 90

One suspect reportedly had worked for the victim.

By Christina Jewett and Cameron Jahn -- Bee Staff Writers
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 19, 2006

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Marie Oliver, frail and nearly blind, depended on the help of those who mowed her North Sacramento yard and cleaned her gutters.

One of them - a 16-year-old she'd paid to work in her yard - allegedly broke into Oliver's home Saturday with another 16-year old. They beat the 90-year-old great-grandmother to death, then stole her cash and some trinkets, police said Tuesday.

"It's senseless," Sacramento Police homicide Sgt. Jim Hendrickson said. "These 16-year-old kids came in here, they could have stolen everything they wanted and left. Why did they have to attack this gal?"

Officers arrested the teens Tuesday morning on suspicion of homicide. They are not releasing their names because they are juveniles. The boys are being held in Juvenile Hall.

Oliver's children said the boys are among the very people Oliver took pride in reaching out to with odd jobs in exchange for spending money.

"I think it's a real sad comment on our society," said Oliver's son, Gerald Oliver of Lodi.

Carol and Sonny Jeffries live a few doors down from Oliver's Ellen Street home.

"I'm sad for the family's loss. I mean, she probably would have given them anything they wanted if they had just asked for it," Carol Jeffries said.

"It's sad all the way around," Sonny Jeffries said. "To go back and prey on someone that age. What possibly could have been worth that much?"

About 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a neighbor found the door to Oliver's South Hagginwood house ajar. When he checked inside, he found her dead and called police.

Hendrickson said the case began to come together Monday morning when an anonymous caller reported a conversation she said she had overheard: Teens were planning to get rid of an elderly woman's belongings.

Detectives talked to a 16-year-old who lives in Oliver's neighborhood and say he made "significant admissions."

Hendrickson said the boy and a 16-year-old friend - who had worked for Oliver - scouted the elderly woman's house on Thursday, walking around the outside of the two-bedroom home and climbing on the roof.

Officers matched one of the teen's shoe prints to a print found in mud in Oliver's backyard, Hendrickson said.

Based on evidence collected at the home and from interviews, detectives pieced together what they believe happened Saturday evening:

One of the teens kicked open Oliver's back door. For some reason, she went to the front door. The teens walked inside, to the living room, where they beat her to death with a blunt object. Hendrickson did not say what the object was.

The teens scoured the house, coming up with a "small amount" of cash and some small items.

"The one kid who did lawn work - he knew she was blind and disabled," Hendrickson said. "That's why they targeted her."

Gerald Oliver's wife, Connie Oliver, said the elderly woman called her on Thursday, saying someone had knocked on her doors and windows.

"It's scary - sometimes people could call the police a little sooner," Connie Oliver said.

Andres Cueto, 18, lives across the street from Oliver and said he was home alone all day Saturday waiting for a friend to pick him up.

He heard a woman yelling in an angry tone about 7 p.m. "I didn't think too much of it. I don't know if it was the lady or not," he said.

Leticia Guerrero, who lives next door to Oliver, was at work during the killing.

"More than anything, we're scared," she said in Spanish. "We always lock ourselves in.

"The lady, she didn't mess with anybody."

Oliver's relatives said Tuesday they are relieved the suspects have been caught, but they're upset they are so young.

"Evil is evil, it doesn't matter whose mind it begins in," said Gerald Oliver.

He expressed regret over the uncertainty of the boys' future.

The teens were not formally charged Tuesday.

In California, 16-year-olds can be tried as adults on homicide charges.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Christina Jewett can be reached at (916) 321-1201 or cjewett@sacbee.com.