Authorities say a suspect in the brutal murder of a Richmond mother 33 years ago is finally behind bars.
Single mother Marsha Carter was stabbed to death inside her bedroom while her four boys were home, with one of them hiding under a bed during the attack, according to Richmond police.
"The kids went into the mom's room and they didn't find mom there," Richmond Police Lt. Felix Tran said. "All they find is blood on mom's bed. Of course as children they don't know what to do."
Carter's body was found in the trunk of her car in a west Sacramento parking lot a week and half later, but a suspect was never identified until recently. Police took another look at the case and finally got what they need to arrest 54-year-old Sherrill Smothers, Carter's former boyfriend.
Smothers is out of custody after posting $1 million bail and a trial date has yet to be determined, officials said.
Brian Donleavy, who now owns the house where the brutal attack happened, says one of Carter's sons came by the home serveral years ago. The son then had just produced a rap album called "Who Killed My Mama?"
"Her son was here and I said 'I wish you well.' I hope they catch whoever did this and they finally did. It's a heartbreaking story," Donleavy said.
