A 15-year-old boy was arrested and booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on a murder charge following the fatal stabbing of 57-year-old Cherie Dodge, who was killed while sleeping on a bench in downtown Roseville, according to police and family statements.
She was an amazing person. She loved everybody. She had the most contagious smile,
Carlos Brandt said of his mother, Cherie Dodge, who was killed while sleeping on a bench near Atlantic and South Grant streets in downtown Roseville. Officers responded to the area near the railroad tracks and new construction around 1 a.m. on Oct. 14 after receiving a report that someone had been stabbed, discovering the 57-year-old woman dead at the scene.
The Investigation and Arrest at Buckley Court
Roseville police detectives gathered a variety of evidence and leads that helped identify a person of interest in the case. Investigators obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 100 block of Buckley Court in Roseville. Early Friday morning, the Roseville/Rocklin regional SWAT team assisted detectives in serving that search warrant, leading to the apprehension of the 15-year-old boy, according to the Roseville Police Department.
The teen suspect was subsequently taken into custody and booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall, where he faces a murder charge. Police stated that there are no other outstanding suspects and emphasized that it does not appear there was any known connection between Dodge and her suspected killer.
Family Remembers Cherie Dodge and Calls for Accountability
Dodge had lived in Roseville for nearly 40 years. Family members shared that in recent years she suffered from an undiagnosed mental health disorder that eventually led to her living on the streets, though she always maintained the support of her family.
The woman killed in Roseville on October 14th was our mother. She was a mother of 5, a grandmother of 10, and a great-grandmother of 1.
Carlos Brandt
Brandt recounted that his mother usually slept on the bench along Atlantic Street where she was attacked. The night before she was found, Dodge had visited The Fig Tree in downtown Roseville, where she was known. Patrick Posuniak, a barista at the establishment, remembered her as a patient individual who frequently stopped by during the winter to ask for a cup of hot water. I was mad. She didn’t deserve it,
Posuniak said, adding that she was always sweet.
Granddaughter Laila Brandt emphasized that Dodge was more than just a homeless person,
noting that she was a person. She was a human being, you know? She didn’t deserve anything like that.
Relatives have urged the community to remember her beyond her housing status, pointing out that her struggles with mental illness did not diminish her right to compassion, dignity, and protection.
Community Resources and Memorials in Roseville
In the wake of the killing, family members have raised questions about how the city protects vulnerable residents and addressed the resources available to people experiencing homelessness. Brandt argued that city leaders bear a responsibility to address circumstances that could have prevented the tragedy, noting that local shelters often reach full capacity.
You know, this is something that could have been prevented if the available resources were there at that particular time. You know, there are some places here in town, but most of the time they get full.
Carlos Brandt
Charles Rodriguez, another son of Dodge, expressed his determination to seek systemic accountability: I'm coming at Placer County. I'm coming at the city police department. I'm coming at anyone who can make a difference in this case right now because this means everything to our family. It's something no one should have to think about.
Photos of a smiling Dodge now mark the bench at Atlantic and South Grant streets where she was found. The family gathered at the site to honor her memory, and a candlelight vigil was scheduled to be held by the Gathering Inn near the memorial bench.