Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 11, 2007

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SON GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER & ARSON IN KILLING OF HIS MOTHER

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that a Sonoma County jury returned verdicts of Guilty in a little over one hour in the second degree murder case of People vs. Steven Krukow for the killing of Doris Krukow. This seven day jury trial was held before the Honorable Judge Rene Chouteau in the Sonoma County Superior Court.

Mrs. Krukow is survived by her daughter Sharon Taylor and the defendant.

"This defendant’s slaying of his elderly mother and his attempt to cover it up with arson was unspeakably gruesome. We’re pleased with the jury’s verdict of murder." DA Passalacqua said.

Krukow, 45, had been living with Mrs. Krukow, who was 72 years old, in her home on Young Drive in Santa Rosa. Mrs. Krukow had asked her son to move out because of numerous problems he had caused in the neighborhood. On the date of her murder, he was supposed to move out. Mr. Krukow, however, took a heavy blunt object and bludgeoned Mrs Krukow to death while she sat on a loveseat in her housecoat. He then poured gasoline in several areas of the house and ignited several fires. Over fifty percent of Mrs. Krukow’s body was burned in the fire. Mr. Krukow then fled Sonoma County and lived under an assumed name for almost four weeks until Mendocino Sheriff’s deputies spotted him in Fort Bragg on August 17, 2006. When they asked for identification, Mr. Krukow gave a false name.

The jury also found Mr. Krukow guilty of elder abuse and arson of an inhabited dwelling. He is now facing a sentence of 15 years to life. The sentencing hearing is set for June 7, 2007 at 9 a.m. in Department 4.

Deputy District Attorney Charles Arden was the prosecutor assigned to the case. He was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Brian Davis and, Legal Secretary Jennifer Zunino, Legal Assistants Darlene Vanderpool and Patti Davis, Victim/Witness Advocate Eric Hergenreder, and Claims Specialist Kathleen Podhurst. Santa Rosa Police Department Detective Alissa Johnson was the lead investigator for the case, assisted by Santa Rosa Police Department Detective Brian Reynolds.