A kind elderly California art gallery manager and grandmother beloved by her community has been savagely murdered by an unhinged young man, who later made a confession that should infuriate every resident of the town.
The Daily Mail reported on Sunday that 73-year-old Rachell Summers was stabbed at least 11 times outside Capitola Mall in Santa Cruz County in what authorities describe as a “random act of violence.” The incident occurred last Monday at noon in broad daylight.
At the time of her death, Summers had been writing an illustrated children’s book.
19-year-old Tyler Leibelt was arrested and charged with her murder. He also faces another charge for using a deadly weapon.
Court documents obtained by KSBW reveal just how gruesome the Summers’s murder was.
The documents reveal that after considering several possible victims while lying in wait just outside the Capitola Mall, Leibelt decided to race up to Summers and stabbed her in the back.
But he did not stop there.
Prosecutors reveal that the Summers suffered multiple stab wounds to her back, but also defensive stab wounds to her forearms, and to her center chest. All told, she was stabbed more than 11 times.
Leibelt proceeded to run into the mall after the killing. In the process, he left behind a substantial amount of evidence, including a trail of the victim’s blood.
Leibelt also tossed a knife that was later recovered. He had purchased the weapon just a few moments before the killing at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
The killer arrived at a nearby gas station to purchase a beverage. Then, he called the police to confess to his crime and surrendered.
While being interviewed by the cops, Leibelt made a startling confession.
“He indicated that he had had homicidal fantasies for a while and that he had previously disclosed these fantasies, but he ‘kept getting let out’ of custody,” KSBW reported.
The report added that Leibelt said he had “sustained thoughts and fantasies about murdering someone… he has had them since puberty.”
The court filing obtained by KSBW additionally reveals that Leibelt was a ticking time bomb months earlier. Specifically, it notes Leibelt has a November gun violence restraining order issued against him.
Sheriff’s deputies say that Leibelt had “expressed a desire to cause a mass casualty event.” They also noted that he “wrote a goodbye letter expressing a desire to kill as many people as possible.”
Per the Daily Mail, Leibelt appeared in court on Wednesday for his arraignment, which has been continued until July 29.
He is being held without bail.
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