Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Sept. 29, 2021, at about 1:27 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Haven Lane in McKinleyville for the report of an armed robbery and sexual assault.

At the residence, deputies located an adult female victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical attention. Through their investigation, deputies learned that the suspect, 22-year-old Elijah Isaiah Eugene Killebrew of McKinleyville, and the victim had known each other for several years. On the evening of the assault, Killebrew arrived at the residence uninvited and asked to use the victim’s restroom. Once inside the residence, Killebrew reportedly withdrew a firearm, threatened to kill the victim and sexually assaulted her. Killebrew then stole a large amount of cash from the victim prior to fleeing the residence in a vehicle.

Deputies on patrol in the area of U.S. Highway 101 and School Road located Killebrew’s vehicle traveling on Highway 101. Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle and took Killebrew into custody without incident. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a loaded, unregistered firearm.

Killebrew was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of rape (PC 261(a)(6)), robbery (PC 211), false imprisonment (PC 236), sexual assault (PC 287(c)(3)), kidnapping (PC 209 (B)(1)), assault with a firearm on a person (PC 245(a)(2)), exhibiting a firearm (PC 417(a)(2)), criminal threats (PC 422), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(a)), possession of an undetectable firearm (PC 24610) and driving on a suspended license (VC 14601.1(a)).                    

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.