I often find writing these columns therapeutic. If there’s a topic I feel strongly about, researching and writing a summary of what I’ve learned for LoCO is usually a calming exercise. So when my wife, Louisa Rogers, expressed her sense of helplessness when she heard about the March 27 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, I invited her to write a guest column. This is the result.

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I’m writing this on March 29, two days after waking up to the news of yet another mass shooting, in Nashville – one that felt more personal to me because two close friends of mine live in Tennessee, and because my grandmother grew up there.

Forty-eight hours later, the news has moved on. Today’s headline was about Trump’s indictment. Well, fair enough – that is big news. But since I, for one, am not done, here are some inchoate, chaotic reflections – much like mass shootings themselves.

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I simply cannot imagine what it’s like to raise children in the U.S. today. Of course, mass shooters are indiscriminate in their choice of targets – shopping centers, churches and synagogues, bars, downtown streets, you name it. Any of us could be dead in an instant.

But schools seem to be a particular favorite of theirs. At least 560 children, educators, and school staff have been victims of school shootings since 1999, while more than 348,000 students have experienced gun violence at school.

I was shocked to read in The Washington Post that the median age of a school shooter is 16. Children are responsible for more than half the country’s school shootings, which of course wouldn’t be possible if they didn’t have access to firearms.

As of 2020, gun violence surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death in children. If I were a parent, I think I’d want to get the hell out of the country.

Indeed, many Americans, parents and otherwise, are moving abroad – some to Mexico, my second home. At this point, gangs of narcotraficos with specific targets don’t seem like a big deal compared to young men walking into schools, grocery stores and movie theaters to randomly mow down whoever’s around, using combat weapons better suited for warfare.

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The L.A. teachers’ union recently went on a three-day strike for higher salaries. The entire school system shut down, with parental support. Using that as a model, I’d like every teacher and college professor to go on a nationwide strike protesting government inaction in passing and enforcing gun regulation. Every time there’s a mass shooting, they should go on strike, until the government is forced to pass common-sense legislation.

I believe most parents would back the teachers against the corrupt government officials who lack the backbone to protect children’s and teachers’ safety.

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In his article, “A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths,” New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof describes the steps required for a person to adopt a dog in the state of Mississippi:

1. Fill out a 64-question application
2. If renting, the landlord is contacted
3. Have family members meet the dog in person
4. Create yard fencing and security
5. Schedule a sleepover visit with the dog
6. Pay the $125 adoption fee
7. Adopt the dog

And if they want to buy a firearm from a gun store?

1. Pass a 13-question background check
2. Buy a gun

Even less is required if they purchase a gun from another individual. All they have to do is not appear to be underage or drunk.

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I just plain don’t get extreme right-wingers. I know, they don’t get me, either. But they seem terrified of any change. Safe storage, red flag laws, background checks, waiting periods, ghost guns, you name it, they resist. What are they so scared of that they can’t move an inch? Afraid they’ll lose the whole war for the battle?

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Perhaps people harmed by gun violence should have the right to sue gun sellers. Strict liability should be mandatory for buyers, owners and users, along with licensing and education.

Massachusetts, which, after Hawaii, has the second lowest gun mortality rates in the country (3.7 per 100,000, compared with, for instance, 28.6 in Mississippi) is an exception. A gun buyer must first pay $100 for a license, be fingerprinted, undergo a background check and explain why he or she wants a gun. If the permit is granted, which takes a few weeks, only then can the person buy the firearm. Afterwards, they must store it safely and report if it is stolen.

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I’m just singing with the birds, I know. Being an unlikely optimist, I still trust the U.S. will eventually get its act together. But however tragic these killings are, I sense we’re nowhere near bottom. Wonderful individuals exist in our country, but many of us still vote for politicians who are too angry, vengeful, corrupt, passive, and just plain pathetic to give enough of a shit to take action.

For this week’s Humboldt Tea Time, John sits down for a hot cuppa with Marnie Atkins, Wiyot tribal member and manager of Old Town Eureka’s Da gou rou louwi’ Cultural Center. 

PREVIOUSLY:

• HUMBOLDT TEA TIME: Eureka Books Owner Solomon Everta on His Weird History and His Vision for the Future of the Shop, and the World
• HUMBOLDT TEA TIME: Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel Talks About Kindness, Homelessness, Mental Health and the Things She Hopes to Accomplish in Her New Office

On this week’s EcoNews Report, Ken Burton, local bird nerd, joins the show to discuss this year’s Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival and other big news in the birding community. This year’s festival, running from April 13-16, features over 75 events, from bird walks to lectures. We hope to see you there!

In other bird news, we chat about the controversy in the birding community about whether to retain reference to birder and slaveholder John James Audubon by the Audubon Society and its chapters. Also, are you concerned about bird impacts from offshore wind? Be sure to check out this week’s episode for more.

Note: This article was originally published in 1985. The botanical science discussed has evolved since then, and certainly since the events during which the story takes place. It is presented here as a history.

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When one reaches, almost, the ripe old age of 80, and if one is still lucky enough to have one’s mental faculties, still more or less intact, and if said person has a knowledge of certain things that may be of interest to others, then I believe that said knowledge should be shared. So here goes.

My father. Lee Harris was a native-born Humboldter. He was born and raised in the Rio Dell area, where his father, James Harris, homesteaded in the early 1850s.

Lee Harris when he was a student at Craddick’s Business College, Eureka.

Lumber was his life. Dad started in the woods as a chopper. He worked up to position of superintendent for the factory at Pacific Lumber Co., Scotia. He held this position until he retired in 1942.

Although my Dad was an avid sportsman, enjoying the hunting and fishing that abounded in those days, his main love of the outdoors was the flowers. He was a self-taught botanist and, from the time I was big enough to follow him around the hills on hunting and fishing trips, he tried to instill in me that love of nature that he so dearly embraced.

My constant companion on these trips was the Handbook of California Wild Flowers. If the fish wouldn’t bite, I could always find a wild flower or weed to try and classify. My Dad also insisted that I learn the Latin names, as well as the common, but I imagine my pronunciation left much to be desired.

From an interest in all wild flowers. Dad finally focused his attention on wild lilies. He made such an extensive study of them that he was considered an expert. Such noted botanists as Dr. Jepson, from University of California, Luther Burbank, Emanual Fritz, Dr. Vollmer and others came to see Dad and his lily garden, and to consult him as to growth and location of certain lilies.

Lilium maritimum. Photo: Zoya Akulova-Barlow, via Calflora. CC-BY-NC 4.0 license.

When Dad and I first started working to establish a lily garden in Scotia we planned on having only the native lilies of the three northern counties. We started in Mendocino County, which has only one native lily. What I mean by “native” is that although other species of lilies may be found in that county, there is only one distinct type lily found in that county and no place else. Such is the Merritianum (mer-it-e-um). This is a nasturtium red bell shaped lily with a yellow throat that grows just south of Fort Bragg, along the coast. It is never found more than a mile inland from the ocean. It is odorless.

Humboldt County has nine distinct native lilies. We will start with the most common, the Pardalinum lily, commonly called the Tiger lily. It is found along the banks of the South Fork of the Eel River, along Mattole River and in many places near running water.

The Pardalinum lily grows to a height of four to five feet, has many flowers to the stem, an orange-red bloom with curved petals, and numerous black or purple dots. It has no odor. It has a scale type bulb.

Lilium rubescens. Photo: Larry Nichols, via Calflora. CC-BY-NC 4.0 license.

Along the high dry ridges throughout the county and through the Redwoods, especially near Miranda and Weott, you may run across a fairly tall lily with a cluster of white fragrant flowers. This lily is Rubescent. or Rubescens. As the flower ages, the white petals take on a ruby color to deep purple. It is also faintly speckled with black dots. This lily is commonly called the Redwood or Ruby lily.

Between Carlotta and Bridgeville grows one of the most beautiful lilies of all. This lily greatly resembles the Pardalinum but the flowers are much larger and the petals a more vivid red. The plant grows from five to six feet, with one or two to over a dozen flowers to the stem. It is highly freckled but has no odor.

There has been much controversy about this lily. Burbank claimed it was one of his hybrids that he called the Sunset lily. Tigard Lily Farms in Tigard, Oregon, also claimed it as a hybrid they had crossed. The American Lily Association sent an expert to examine the lily. My father was able to show the expert the lily growing in its natural habitat. It was later decided by the Lily Association that this was definitely a wild lily and not a hybrid. They then honored my Dad by naming it the Harrisii Lily (hare-is-e-ii). The ‘64 floods practically made this lily extinct.

Lilium kelloggii. Photo: Steve Conger, via Calflora. CC-BY-NC 4.0 license.

If you ever drive down Kneeland Road and catch a whiff of an elusive perfume, park your car and start looking. This lily, the Kelloggii, is the perkiest, sauciest, most lovable of all the lilies. At least I think so. It grows from one to four feet high and can have from four or five to sometimes fifty flowers on one stem. The petals curve back from a deep yellow throat, with the cutest black freckles and faint red stripes down the petal. The petals are white but as they age. they take on a ruby tint.

They seem to be such a happy little flower, as they dance in the breeze and give off the most heavenly perfume. I defy anyone to spend a few minutes on a warm July day. on a quiet hillside, surrounded by a group of Kelloggii Lilies, wrapped in their special scent, as a gentle breeze sings through the tree tops -the only sound is the song of a bird and the buzz of a bee - then say, ‘God is Dead.’ Don’t you believe it.

Another small, dainty lily, and one that is unique in coloring, is the Occidentallii (ox-i-den-tally). This lily does not grow tall. About six to eight inches is average, although a few do get higher when they have heavy brush to combat. At one time this lily grew in profusion around Eureka, south of Harris before it was settled, around Buhne Point before it was leveled to build the nuclear plant.

Due to building and expansion it is now mostly extinct. In 1942 I found one growing near Union and Henderson, but now that area is a playground. I do know of one patch near Table Bluff Lighthouse where a few were waging a losing battle to livestock and brush. I scattered seeds and replanted many scales and hope they are still surviving. The Occidentallii is unique, with its throat a bright green and yellow color. The bright red tipped petals curve backward. It is lightly freckled and has no odor.

Along Highway 101 north from Trinidad you will no doubt run across the Columbianums; there are two distinct types, the red and yellow. Each has curved petals, faint markings and a clear either red or yellow color. At one time there were many of both species in the Fieldbrook area, but due to settlement and livestock they are slowly being wiped out; The heavy brush along the coast is another hardship they have to contend with.

If you ever decide to make a lily garden and want to plant a Columbianum I would advise you to have a full- sized vocabulary of four letter words handy, for they pick the biggest huckleberry and azalea bush they can find, then they tuck their bulb about six inches under all the roots and defy you to dig them out.

Throughout the mountains of Humboldt County, you will sometimes be lucky enough to find a bog. Sometimes they cover about an acre and sometimes they cover several acres. During the winter and spring they turn into full sized lakes but with the summer become semi dry. From the oozing muck and water will appear a clear yellow lily. This is called the Vollmerii. It was named for Dr. Mike Vollmer, a noted lily expert, as well as a prominent obstetrician and gynecologist from San Francisco.

Like the Vollmerii, the Lilium Humboldtii likes a wet shady place. If you find a large spring on a shady hillside with a nice boggy seep there you will find the Humboldtii. The Vollmerii and Humboldtii both have rhizomonus bulbs.

This is as good a place as any to give you some very good advice. If you decide to plant a lily garden, please, when you dig a bulb with scales, remove several outer scales and replant them. If the bulb is rhizomatous, remove the more mature bulblets, which cluster like grains of rice, to the main clump. Replant them. It is well to spot and mark your lilies when they are blooming during the summer, then in the fall, when you go back to dig the bulb, gather as many seed pods as you can, or as many as the deer decide to leave you. If you wish to start a seed bed, remember it takes five or six years of tender loving care to nurture one little seed to maturity.

Scatter as much seed as you can in places that are well protected. It even pays to scatter some loose dirt over the seeds. This will discourage the birds, rodents and squirrels who all feel that those seeds were put there for them alone. Remember this rule of thumb - when you take one thing for yourself, at least plant three for posterity. Thus you will propagate and perpetuate.

Far up on the hot barren hillsides near Snow Camp is found the lily Washingtonianum Major. This a pure white lily with loose curved petals. The flowers are fragrant and usually larger than most lilies. Like most white lilies it too turns a ruby color with age. It is lightly freckled, although I have found them without markings.

We have now covered the nine native lilies of Humboldt County.

Del Norte County has one native lily, the Bollanderii. This is a small claret, rose-colored flower, with a chartreuse green throat and upright leaves that do not curl back. It lacks odor and only grows about four to six inches high. It is found on hot rocky hillsides on Wagon Wheel Road and on the ridges they are now mining, so it too may be extinct before long.

It is strange that the native Humboldt lilies may be found in the other two counties but the two natives of Del Norte and Mendocino are never found in Humboldt.

When our lily garden in Scotia was complete, it was a beautiful sight as Dad tried to establish a habitat as near what their own was in the wilds. Representatives from all the lily societies and botanists from several universities were constant visitors. Kew Gardens in England asked to exchange bulbs and seeds, so it wasn’t long before we also had lilies from all over the world.

There was a lily presumed to be extinct, but hints of its existence kept trickling back, so Kew Gardens sent an expedition into Tibet to run the rumors down. After many hardships, the expedition was set upon by hostile tribes. One Englishman and his bearer escaped and made it into Burma. There, the Englishman later died of fever. Months later his effects were received by Kew Gardens and among them were seeds and four lily bulbs. Whether they were the extinct lily from Tibet or a lily from Burma was not known.

Not wanting to chance planting them all in one place, one bulb was sent to the arboretum in Washington D.C, one to Kew Gardens, one to another noted lily grower and one to Dad. Well, Dad’s bulb grew and it was beautiful. It had about a seven-inch trumpet-shaped lily, white with pale green stripes down each petal. It also had an odor but not one you would call pleasant. This bulb also had an infestation of some kind of bug like a nematode. It promptly infested every bulb in the garden.

We tried every known method to get rid of our Burma Bug as we called it. Nothing worked. I worked in the hospital at that time, so took some of the bugs to the lab. I tried every known poison we had. They got fat on them. I tried ether. It never even put them to sleep. I tried alcohol and they didn’t even get drunk. I finally got mad and lit a match to the alcohol. It worked. Yes, we dug and burned every bulb in our lily garden. Talk about heartbreak!

About that time, the second World War broke out. Dad retired from Pacific Lumber and moved with us to our ranch at Freshwater.

Kew Gardens had a fabulous collection of books on all the lilies of the world. There were about 50 pages to a book, and about eight books in all. On one side of a page was the origin of the lily, its founder, a description of the parts of the bulb and flower, its habitat, soil and drainage. On the corresponding page was a full-size, hand painted picture of the lily in its natural color, all painted on parchment. Each book was about three feet by three feet and you can imagine what they were worth. They were heavily insured by Lloyd’s of London. It would have been impossible to replace them. The heavy bombings and fighting going on in other nations had already wiped out many lily gardens and collections.

Kew Gardens decided that the last place anyone would drop a bomb would be Freshwater. After they had several near misses with bombs at Kew Gardens, they decided to send the books to us. How they crossed from England to Canada, through Canada, then down to Freshwater, I’ll never know. I would have liked to have had a candid camera the day these two veddy, veddy, correct Englishmen showed up on my doorstep with a half million dollars worth of books. I was running the tractor and manure spreader and had been pitching and spreading for a couple of hours, and I didn’t smell like a lily, that’s for sure.

Well, I crawled off the tractor to see what the two dudes wanted. They introduced themselves as couriers from Lloyd’s of London and asked to see my credentials. I pulled off my smelly boots, invited them in, showed them my driver’s license and birth certificate and said, “Just slide the books under my bed.” I thought they would burst into tears but they finally slid them under the bed and there they stayed until after the war was over.

I did remove a couple of books and took them to the Eureka Women’s Club. I was program chairman for the Garden section and I think I gave them quite a spiel on lilies. I did not tell them I had six more books home under my bed. I was just a little cautious about talking about them for it was bad enough sleeping over a half million dollars worth of stuff. I didn’t lose much sleep over them, but didn’t want to start having to worry about them during the day.

When the war ended, two more couriers from Lloyd’s showed up and, with a sigh of relief, slid the books from under my bed and thankfully carted them back to England.

I would like to present this little story of the native Humboldt lilies to the Historical Society, as a memorial to my father. Lee Harris, a self-taught and much-loved botanist.

Should the society know of any university, college or high school students studying botany, and should they be interested in writing a thesis on wild native lilies of Humboldt, I think it would be a fine project. Some are practically extinct now and in the near future more may be pushed out of existence unless someone can prove they are an endangered species. I would like to see their history preserved.

Although I do not get around as well as I did fifty years ago, I am still in pretty good shape and feel that I could either direct or lead some necessary field trips.

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The story above was originally printed in the March-April 1985 issue of The Humboldt Historian, a journal of the Humboldt County Historical Society, and is reprinted here with permission. The Humboldt County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to archiving, preserving and sharing Humboldt County’s rich history. You can become a member and receive a year’s worth of new issues of The Humboldt Historian at this link.

Marie Abare Cook
August 29, 1935 - February 26, 2023

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mom Marie. She passed away on February 26 in the hospital after a courageous health battle. We will never forget her strength, she fought for all she believed in.

Marie was born on August 29, 1935 at the Scotia Hospital to Albert and Emma (Scatena) Abare. She was an only child and adored by her parents. She was playing the piano and dancing in front of an audience by the time she was four. She had a love for horses and her dad made sure she had her own horse, lessons and a stable. She grew up in Rio Dell — her grandfather owned a hotel and bar room where she lived until she was 12, then they moved to their forever home on Pacific Ave. 

She always shared with us the early days of her life when she would sit on the stairs to the hotel and watch people come and go. Her mother and aunts would cook all day, wonderful Italian meals to serve the guests. Her mom, our Nonie, was a talented cook and taught her daughter how to make homemade raviolis and her famous spaghetti sauce along with teaching her how to speak fluent Italian. Our mother also received the great talent from her mother to entertain — everything was thoughtful and planned when they had friends or family over for a meal.

Mom attended Rio Dell Elementary School, Fortuna High School and Chico State, worked at the Scotia Inn for many years and finished her career as a phlebotomist at Redwood Memorial Hospital, where she retired in 1997. Marie married her husband of 65 years Gary on November 24, 1957 at the Scotia Catholic Church. They moved to San Jose, where they had their children and met their lifelong friends and ohana the Carvalho and Rodrigues family. Our mom cherished all of her friendships very much and treated them as family. Whatever was hers was yours. Her kind soul never wavered. She once stopped the car, got out and took her socks off to give to a homeless woman (she told us when she got back in the car they were clean, she just put them on after her shower). That was our Mom!

Marie comes from Italian and French heritage. The Abare family was from Wooster, Mass. She had a deep love for her family, our parents made a trip of a lifetime to the East Coast in 1991 to visit her family. So many wonderful memories for her. Her love for her family was steadfast, the best mom and wife ever.

Besides her family, which always came first, she had a love for dogs, loved to cook, crochet (we all stay warm in the winter with one of her many hand-made blankets). Beau, her great-grandson, has the last one she crocheted, special. She also enjoyed gardening, bus trips with friends, the cooking channel and relaxing in front of an old movie.

We remember growing up in Scotia when they had the Kiwanis Day Parade, mom made sure we had the best prize-winning costumes, whether it was Mike and Tom as cowboys, Maryanne as the Flying Nun and Jon as an authentic logger. She always made a strong effort to be the best for her children. Our parents loved to dance, fond memories of our family dance parties in Scotia!

Thank you to the following for the compassion they showed to our mom: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. Luh and staff, Dr. Siddiqi and Staff, Dr. Bernstein and staff, Dr. Stokes and Staff, Angela Murray and Staff, Mark and ER staff, Ivy and staff, Father Michael Cloney, Greens Fortuna Pharmacy, her caregiver Denise for her wonderful care and love. And her best friend Winnie Bettiga — they shared so many memories, raised their children and most of all laughed every time they were together.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Emma. She leaves behind her husband of 65 years, Gary; daughter Maryanne (Harry); sons Jon (Kim), Mike and Tom (Lisa); four grandchildren, Kristy (Adam), Lexy, Nathaneal, Austin; great-grandson Beau.

Our mom was kind, generous, loyal, honest and tough was her middle name. Her wisdom will carry on in us forever. All who knew her would agree, our hearts are broken and we will miss you for eternity. A remarkable woman we were proud to call Mom, grandma and great-grandma.

A mass in her honor will be on Saturday April 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. at St Joseph’s Catholic Church. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday April 16, 2023 at the Monday Club from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for family and friends. In lieu of flowers you can donate to the Human Society for our mothers love of animals.

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It is with great sadness and a heavy heart we announce the unexpected passing of Sean Swanson on March 13, 2023. Sean was born on December 30, 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to parents Kathleen Weber and Sidney Swanson. Sean grew up in Laguna Beach/Southern California, moved to Humboldt as a teen and started Fortuna High, where he loved woodworking. He enjoyed surfing, the beach, riding dirt bikes, tearing up the hills around Swain’s Flat on his motorcycle, RC car racing and NASCAR. Sean worked in construction building houses and also as a painter. One of his most proud accomplishments was building and maintaining the Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail located at the north end of Fortuna.

As an adult Sean had many struggles and was headed down a bad path when an event happened that changed his life. River Life Foundation (RLF) began when Sean had hit rock bottom. As he walked along a river bar contemplating ending his life, he heard cries for help. A man was drowning and Sean, without hesitation, jumped in and saved him. At that point, Sean found his purpose: helping and serving others. He started RLF on July 5, 2008 with the promise to make a positive difference in Fortuna. Under Sean’s direction, RLF held monthly cleanups of homeless camps with 483,000 pounds of trash collected, provided positive outreach to the vulnerable homeless population with 193 people assisted by reuniting them with family, onto a job or into rehab and held community holiday meals. RLF’s mission was, and in honor of Sean, still is to make a positive difference in the community.

Sean is survived by his mom Kathleen Weber, his children Sean Kelly Swanson, Jr. and Morgan Lee Swanson (Adam) and grandson Adam Barnhart Jr., his children’s mother Tiffany Brink, stepmother Debbie Swanson, half-sisters Amy Heltemes and Heidi Barthel, half-brother Joshua Swanson. Sean is also survived by his beloved fiancée Jenifer Larue and her daughter Lily Larue and all his RLF “trashy homie” volunteers too numerous to name individually.

Sean was preceded in death by his father Sidney Swanson, step father George Weber, his dog Boscoe, and special friends Dennis Wendt, Bob Wilson and Phil Leavitt.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 1pm to 3pm at the Fortuna Veteran’s Hall. Bring your stories and memories to share!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Christ Lutheran Church discretionary fund to 2132 Smith Lane, Fortuna, CA 95540, memo: River Life Foundation.

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Press release from the District Attorney’s Office:

Today, Judge Kelly Neel sentenced Eureka woman Daniella Patricia Moore (43 years) to serve 15 years to life in state prison for the murder of 19-year-old Hannah Hayhurst, and assault with a deadly weapon upon Misty Miller. Family and friends of Ms. Hayhurst addressed Moore and Judge Neel, sharing the anguish, loss and heartbreak caused by these terrible crimes.

Moore.

On July 4, 2019, Moore attacked Misty Miller causing significant wounds to her head. Some hours later, Moore stabbed and disemboweled Hannah Hayhurst, leaving her body near the foot of Hilfiker Lane in Eureka. Moore then drove to Garberville, still dressed in clothing drenched in Ms. Hayhurst’s blood.

Sheriff’s deputies located her there in the early morning hours of July 5. Moore appeared to be psychotic, a condition that evidence indicated was brought on by use of illegal narcotics. Deputies initially intended to detain Moore on a mental health hold pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150, but soon realized she was a suspect in the Eureka Police Department’s (E.P.D.) investigation into the suspected homicide of Ms. Hayhurst. They transferred her into the custody of E.P.D. officers. Detective C. Watson led the investigation into the murder, ultimately arresting Moore for the murder of Ms. Hayhurst. The additional investigative efforts of Detective R. Harpham led to evidence revealing Moore as the previously unidentified assailant of Misty Miller.

The District Attorney filed charges against Moore for her crimes against both victims, including allegations that Moore had tortured Ms. Hayhurst. The torture allegations made Moore eligible for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Moore initially pled not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges, and the court appointed three forensic psychologists to evaluate Moore. Two of the three filed reports indicating their expert opinion that Moore was, in fact, not guilty by reason of insanity when she committed her offenses. One of the psychologists disagreed, and he opined that she was sane. If found true by a jury, Moore’s insanity plea would have made her eligible to serve her sentence at a mental health facility and could have resulted in her release if she was found to have recovered from her mental illness.

Prior to trial, on February 24, 2023, Moore changed her plea to guilty of violations of Penal Code sections 187(a), murder in the second degree, and 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon. She also withdrew her previously entered pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity and waived her right to appeal. As part of the plea, District Attorney Stacey Eads agreed to dismissal of the torture allegations, which had made Moore eligible for a sentence of life without parole.

District Attorney Eads stated: “I extend my deepest sympathies to Hannah’s family and friends for the unbearable grief and tragedy suffered with the loss of her life. Although evidence demonstrated Ms. Moore experienced severe psychosis when she committed her violent crimes, her years of voluntary methamphetamine use significantly attributed to her mental state. Ms. Moore will now serve her sentence in prison, not a state hospital, and be held accountable for her choices that led to her senseless acts of violence and tragic loss of a young life. She is serving a life sentence, and my office will vehemently oppose her release on parole under any circumstances.”

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Eureka Woman Arrested in Connection With Early Morning Homicide Near Hikshari Trail
• Eureka Police: Victim in July 4 Homicide Was 19-Year-Old Eureka Woman; Suspect Will Be Held on Torture Charges
• Eureka Woman Held Without Bail for Alleged Torture, Murder of 19-Year-Old Woman
• COURT ROUNDUP: Supporters Turn Out for McKinleyville Murder Suspect Who Claims He Acted in Self Defense; Eureka Murder/Torture Case Delayed
• TODAY in COURT: Trial of Rancher Raymond Christie Set to Start Later This Month; Torture, Murder Suspect Declines to Show for Hearing
• TODAY in COURT: Latest on the Rio Dell, Manila, Hikshari Trail Murder Cases; Trial of Accused Eureka Sex Trafficker Delayed
• TODAY in COURT: Accused West Del Norte Shooter Pleads Not Guilty; Sex Trafficking Suspect Hopes for Deal; Waterfront Murder Trial Delayed Again
• (GRAPHIC) Doctor Provides Testimony Detailing Autopsy Performed on Victim in Hikshari Trail Murder
• Suspect in Hikshari Trail Murder Must Stand Trial, Judge Rules