Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Grandmother Killed in Capitola Mall Stabbing
Tyler Leibelt, 19, entered a not-guilty plea to first-degree murder charges for the July stabbing death of 73-year-old artist Rachell Summers outside Capitola Mall, and remains held without bail.
Nineteen-year-old Tyler Leibelt pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon for the July 20 stabbing of 73-year-old artist Rachell Summers outside the Capitola Mall in Northern California. Leibelt, a student at Cabrillo College, allegedly took an Uber to campus, turned off his phone, and rode one outlet bus to the mall, where he purchased two switchblade knives at Big 5 Sporting Goods.
Investigators say he considered attacking an elderly Asian man and robbing a Macy’s before focusing on Summers, who was caught off guard. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department had sought a gun-violence emergency protective order against him in November after he voiced a “desire to cause a mass casualty event.” At the time of the murder, Leibelt was awaiting trial on another felony and living in a sober-living environment.
He remains incarcerated in Santa Cruz County Jail without bail, with a preliminary hearing set for Oct 10. Friends and family have started a GoFundMe to create a 529 college fund for Summers' infant grandson.
Why it matters
The case highlights concerns about youth violence and the effectiveness of protective-order measures.
In this story
