A 19-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing artist Rachell Summers, 73, in a random attack was out on bail for a previous felony case, according to court documents. Tyler Leibelt is charged with stalking and killing Summers outside the Capitola Mall on Monday. Prosecutors are seeking to keep Leibelt jailed without bail.
Leibelt's arraignment has been postponed to July 29. He remains in custody.
The killing has deeply impacted the local arts community, where Summers was a prominent figure. She managed the Art of Santa Cruz gallery for seven years. Heather Richman, president of the gallery and a friend of Summers, described her as an indispensable and organized colleague.
According to prosecutors, Leibelt, a student at Cabrillo College, was at the campus cafeteria on Monday when he experienced a "desire to kill someone." Court documents state Leibelt told investigators he decided to turn off his cellphone to avoid interruption before committing the act.
Prosecutors allege Leibelt then took a METRO bus to the Capitola Mall. While there, he purchased two switchblade knives from a Big 5 Sporting Goods store, reportedly stating he intended to use one in each hand. Investigators said Leibelt demonstrated stabbing motions with both hands during questioning.
Court documents indicate Leibelt had previously disclosed homicidal "fantasies" and that he "kept getting let out" of custody. His status on bail for a prior felony case has intensified scrutiny of California's criminal justice system.
Before encountering Summers, Leibelt allegedly considered attacking an elderly Asian man but decided against it due to the presence of cars and the potential for resistance, KSBW reported. Prosecutors state Leibelt then saw Summers near the mall entrance as she walked toward Trader Joe's. He allegedly approached her with a concealed knife, allowing her to walk ahead before chasing her and stabbing her.
Summers sustained over 11 stab wounds, including defensive wounds on her forearms and injuries to her chest. Prosecutors say Leibelt reported hearing Summers cry out, "Help me."
Richman noted the random nature of the attack has been particularly distressing for those who knew Summers, calling it the act of a "kid who just bought a knife and decided he wanted to kill somebody, and he picked somebody at random."
Summers was remembered as a beloved artist, writer, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her daughter and grandson. The Art of Santa Cruz plans to hold memorial arrangements on Saturday, expecting many of its approximately 60 artists to attend.
Santa Cruz County, where the incident occurred, is among the wealthiest counties in California. While its unincorporated areas show lower crime rates, its tourist-heavy city centers experience spikes in property crime.