Residents Voice Concerns in the Wake of Tragedy

Inside a crowded auditorium Wednesday evening, Fair Oaks residents had their chance to voice concerns, frustrations and questions to Sacaramento County Sheriff's Department officials in the wake of Carole Sturgis' recent death.

Although it's hard for residents in Fair Oaks to accept an incident like the one that occurred on Olympic Way, Sheriff's Chief Deputy William D. Johnson offered that no neighborhood is completely immune to such crime.

"It happens in other neighborhoods; now it's happened in yours," Johnson.

Roger Canfield and his son Carlton had lived six houses down from Sturgis for 25 years. For them the incident was an eye-opener, but they still believe Fair Oaks to be a relatively peaceful community.

"It just kind of shows the existence of evil in the world and evil goes after the good," Canfield said. "Everybody is going to be really good about keeping their doors locked, but it's still the same neighborhood, same people. It's safe."

For another of Fair Oaks' locals, Coralie Wilhite, the trauma of that night weighs heavily; however, she sees there can still be some good that comes from the tragedy.

"It makes me just scared and uncomfortable in my own neighborhood, in my own home," she said. "It makes me more aware. Everyone is going to be more on the look out, more uncomfortable, at least for a while and in a way that might actually help prevent other things from happening."

"Hopefully it will help crime go down in the neighborhood; people looking out for one another, watching neigbors' homes. I just wish it didn't happen."

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