Richard Labatt

Case overview

Richard Labatt carried out a quintuple murder-suicide in an upscale suburb outside Sacramento on August 19, 1999. He shot his estranged wife, both his sons, and Stephen La Franco, the neighbor. After shooting La Franco and his wife, Labatt killed both sons and then himself.

Background

Richard Labatt lived next door to Stephen La Franco. The La Francos and the Labatts had bought their new suburban homes within days of each other in 1996, and they became best friends. Mindy Kohler, who lived near both families in the Laguna area of Elk Grove, described the families as friendly and said: "I would see them walk to Jack-in-the Box together some nights," and "These were not crazy people. These were not unordinary people. I know it sounds cliched, but they were just nice neighbors."

The La Franco and Labatt families had been experiencing turmoil, but the extent of the problems was not known until the shooting on Tuesday evening. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney's office, Richard Labatt’s domestic violence situation involved allegations that his wife was having an affair with a neighbor, which sparked an argument at their home.

Stephen and Melissa La Franco and their young daughters were seen frequently with Richard and Trina Labatt and their two young boys. Steve Faris, a fellow correctional officer, described La Franco and the relationship with his partner using the following statements: "He said he had been married twice, and this was the first time he felt at home with somebody," "He loved Missy a lot - they had two children together - but they'd grown apart," and "I never heard La Franco mention Richard Labatt."

Jim Holcomb described the situation as lacking a romantic rivalry and said: "All the parties had split up," and "There was no sneaking around about it." Holcomb also said there was no "love triangle" involved.

The offence

On Tuesday evening, shortly after 7:30 p.m., Richard Labatt parked his Mercedes convertible behind Stephen La Franco's white Ford Explorer on Laguna Pointe Way. Labatt then walked up to the door carrying a licensed 9 mm pistol described by a source as a "recent purchase." When Stephen La Franco answered the door, Labatt shot him in the head.

Mindy Kohler heard the sounds and described them in the following quoted statements: "I heard Steve say, 'What's going on?'" and "I heard three shots - it sounded like firecrackers going off - and then I heard Trina saying, 'No.'"

After shooting Stephen La Franco, Labatt pushed into the house and shot his estranged wife in the head and the hip. He then moved upstairs toward his sons’ bedrooms and found 9-year-old Bradley and 5-year-old Cody Labatt, as well as two of La Franco’s daughters, 8-year-old Samantha and 5-year-old Jessica. Labatt ordered the two girls to leave, but Jessica later told Kohler what she heard as the girls fled.

Based on what sheriff's officials said and on what Jessica told Kohler, Labatt stood over his own sons holding his gun and told them to kneel down. He covered the backs of their heads with a pillow. He then shot each of them. After killing his sons, Labatt shot himself in the head. His body was found near that of his 9-year-old son.

Kohler reported that Jessica La Franco made it outside and wandered over to Kohler's home. Kohler said Jessica told her, "Daddy's dead, Daddy's dead." Kohler then called 911. Kohler found 8-year-old Samantha and later went into the Labatt house.

Inside, Kohler found Stephen La Franco with a large slit on his forehead. Kohler said his eyes were closed but he was still breathing, and she cradled him in her arms and told him: "hang on." When Kohler told La Franco his children were safe, Kohler said La Franco began sobbing. Kohler also said: "But he never regained consciousness and later died at UCDMC." Kohler could see Trina Labatt's body five feet away.

Victims and timeline of deaths

By the time the killing had stopped:

• Three people died at the scene.
• Stephen La Franco survived until early the next morning and was pronounced dead at the UC Davis Medical Center.
• 5-year-old Cody Labatt remained alive until Wednesday afternoon and later stopped breathing while relatives debated whether his life-support systems should be removed.

Investigation and law-enforcement context

Before the shooting, Richard Labatt had been charged with domestic violence for slapping his 26-year-old wife during an argument at their home. That argument was sparked by Labatt’s accusation that his wife was having an affair with a neighbor, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's office.

Labatt was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery. A misdemeanor warrant for his arrest was issued on June 16. Labatt was notified by letter, but deputies never tried to arrest him because his case was one of thousands of outstanding misdemeanor cases.

Over time, Trina Labatt began a relationship with her neighbor, Stephen La Franco. Kohler noted that Richard and Trina Labatt had two young boys and La Franco had young daughters, and the families had been seen spending time together. The relationship was described by Steve Faris with the statement: "The relationship 'was going real good; it was the happiest I'd ever seen him.'"

Timeline

• 1996 — Richard Labatt and Stephen La Franco bought their suburban homes within days of each other, and their families became close.
• May 1 — Richard Labatt slapped his 26-year-old wife during an argument; he was charged with domestic violence for the slapping.
• June 16 — A misdemeanor warrant for Richard Labatt’s arrest was issued.
• August 19, 1999 — After 7:30 p.m., Richard Labatt shot Stephen La Franco, then shot his estranged wife, killed both his sons, and killed himself; three victims died at the scene.
• early the next morning — Stephen La Franco survived until early Wednesday and was pronounced dead at the UC Davis Medical Center.
• Wednesday afternoon — 5-year-old Cody Labatt stopped breathing after relatives debated removal of life-support systems.

Sentencing and appeals

No trial, sentencing, or appeals information was provided.

Outcome and aftermath

The quintuple murder-suicide was described as the largest single slaying case in Sacramento since the April 1991 siege of an area Good Guys store by a gunman left six people dead. It was also described as the worst crime of family violence in the area in memory.

Other details

The scene involved multiple family members:

• Richard Labatt was 27 years old.
• Trina Labatt was 26 years old.
• Stephen La Franco was 35 years old.
• The children were Bradley (9), Cody (5), Samantha (8), and Jessica (5).

Bee staff writers Ramon Coronado, Andy Furillo and M.S. Enkoji contributed to this report.