San Francisco

Former SF Public Defender Fatally Stabbed in Potrero Hill

A woman fatally stabbed Friday morning in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood has been identified as Marla Zamora, a former employee of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.

At 10:54 a.m., officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 400 block of Arkansas Street, according to police spokeswoman Officer Grace Gatpandan.

Upon arrival, officers located Zamora suffering from stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene, Gatpandan said.

Officers were able to detain one person, according to Gatpandan.

Currently, there are no outstanding suspects and there is no threat to the community, Gatpandan said.

Public Defender Jeff Adachi said in a statement that Zamora was a wonderful person with a heart of gold.

"She worked in our office for nearly 30 years before retiring to enter private practice," Adachi said. "She was a fearless advocate for her clients."

"She served as an incredible mentor to so many young lawyers. Our entire office is heartbroken and will miss Marla dearly. Our hearts go out to her daughter, family and friends," he said.

Zamora was the defense attorney for Edwin Ramos, who was convicted in a highly publicized triple murder trial in 2012.

Ramos, who remained in the U.S. on an expired visa from El Salvador, was never reported to federal immigration officials despite multiple contacts with police as a juvenile.

He was sentenced to life in prison for the shootings of Anthony Bologna and his sons Michael and Matthew in the city's Excelsior District in 2008. Prosecutors said during the trial that Ramos was a gang member and mistook the Bolognas for rival gang members.

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