Marci Kitchen Pleads Guilty to Fatally Striking Her Daughter, Kiya, and Faith Tsarnas While Driving Drunk And Then Fleeing the Scene

This article was written by Kim Wear and previously posted in the North Coast Journal. It is reprinted here with their permission.

Marci Kitchen mugshotJust weeks before her trial was set to begin, Marci Kitchen stood in front of Judge Kaleb Cockrum today and pleaded guilty to all the charges she was facing for fatally hitting two teenage girls, including her daughter, while driving drunk then fleeing the scene in 2016.

Wearing a black and white brocade dress with a suit jacket, Kitchen spent the proceedings with her hands clasp in front of her, appearing at times to hold back tears. She quietly answered Cockrum’s questions about whether she understood the implications of pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter and DUI causing injury, along with the special allegations that she caused the girls’ deaths and fled the scene.

The judge explained that Kitchen’s decision was predicated on him sentencing her to the mid-term cap of two years for the principle charge, but it was unclear if he was referring to vehicular manslaughter or DUI causing injury.

Cockrum noted that Kitchen’s maximum exposure in the case was a “point of contention,” with the defense asserting it was 10 years and four months and the prosecution placing the total at 11 years.

He said that he will consider the probation report, the stance of the district attorney’s office and input from family and friends of the defendant and the victims in making his final decision at her Sept. 18 sentencing.

“If I do consider the four-year high term, I will give you your plea back,” Cockrum told Kitchen, which means the case would once again head to trial.

The judge also declined Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads’ request to have Kitchen immediately taken into custody without bail pending sentencing. Eads cited Kitchen’s role in the “tragic deaths of two young girls” and her efforts “to cover up the crime,” as well as the potential she could flee.

Attorney Heidi Holmquist-Wells, representing Kiya Kitchen’s father Joe Kitchen and her brother, also asked for Marci Kitchen to be taken into custody, noting that she has essentially been convicted and that 770 days have passed since the girls were killed.

“The only logical decision is to remand her into custody,” Holmquist-Wells said.
Kitchen’s attorney, Deputy Conflict Counsel Meagan O’Connell, argued against custody, saying her client has abided by “every bail condition” and has had periods of travel from which she “returned as planned.”

Cockrum set a Sept. 4 custody hearing on the matter.

News of the plea came last Friday at a previously scheduled hearing called to discuss potential jury questions, although Joe Kitchen told local [reporter] Kym Kemp that he had been notified the day before.

At that time, O’Connell, turned in a filled-out plea form to Cockrum, who then set today’s hearing, saying he wanted Marci Kitchen to be present.

Eads made clear Monday that the mid-term cap was not an offer from her office, as she had about Kitchen’s plea decision after Friday’s hearing when she stated: “She’s pleading as charged. The people have offered nothing.”

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NoDoper
Guest
NoDoper
5 years ago

What’s wrong with this picture??????

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
5 years ago
Reply to  NoDoper

They should have locked her up. She’s had plenty of time to get her affairs in order. She plead guilty, time to go to jail.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Her as well as “Jon Goldbrick” both need to NEVER see daylight EVER again!!!

Connie Dobbs
Guest
Connie Dobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  NoDoper

The NCJ uses spellcheck for its copy editor.

JP
Guest
JP
5 years ago
Reply to  NoDoper

Lots but she pled as charged no trial and no deals cut.

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago
Reply to  NoDoper

RE: nodoper. The Judge is the problem. This judge and the other judge from the violent child molestor gotta go.

PinkAsso
Guest
PinkAsso
5 years ago

yup lock her up start the time. should have been 20 years….

Omg
Guest
Omg
5 years ago

This is just sick,wrong,

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

2 years minimum 4 years high term? This is not right. Not at all…

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

That is for one of the number of charges she faces. Add the other charges, and she is facing either 10 years plus four months, or 11 years, total.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago

How do you give someone their guilty plea back? It’s not like it’s a punch bowl that someone brought to a party.

Read a book
Guest
Read a book
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It would be great if he gave the plea back. It means the plea is rejected and it has to go to trial.

25 to life no compromise
Guest
25 to life no compromise
5 years ago
Reply to  Read a book

That would be best!

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago

And explain why that would be best please. She entered a plea admitting guilt. The purpose of a trial from the prosecution side is to prove without a doubt the defendant’s guilt. If the defendant is voluntarily admitting her guilt the need for a trial no longer exist. Everyone who is angry and still wishing for a trial must not understand that a trial is not a guaranteed guilty outcome. There’s always a chance she could be found not guilty, guilty of some charges but not others, have a mistrial, have a hung jury, etc etc if she chose to go to trial. She has admitted her guilt on all the charges against her, what more do you think would happen if she went to trial?

JP
Guest
JP
5 years ago

And anyone who would have testified will speak at sentencing. So therr voice will be heard

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

If she had to go through trial there’s a strong possibility she would get a longer sentence.

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The report says that she made her plea based on a 2-year sentence for one charge. If the judge decides that she should receive a 4-year sentence for that single charge, then he will reject her plea, and she will go to trial, where she will almost certainly be convicted, and face the maximum penalty ( which is the 4-year sentence for the single charge, plus an additional seven years for all of the other charges combined. He’s not giving her a present. If he rejects her plea, it gets worse for her, not better.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

I don’t understand the prosecutor’s statement that the proposed sentence “was not an offer from her office”. Does that mean the prosecution accepted the pleading guilty but that the negotiated sentence was only between the judge and the defendant? At best they must have agreed to accepting what the judge apparently “offered” without protest and saying they didn’t themselves “offer” anything is disingenuous. They “offered” their pre approval if nothing else.

me
Guest
me
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

The DA can offer a deal but the judge signs off on it. The judge and only the judge can sentence. Most do not understand the role of each person in the judical system. The DA had zero pull in accepting a guilty plea. Also they haze zero control over sentencing other than asking or recommending what they would like to see done. The judge makes those decisions.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  me

A plea agreement is just that- an agreement. There is a concession by both parties. Otherwise the plaintiff just pleads guilty.

Then it goes into the judge’s hands for sentenancing. Part of the agreement must have been that Kitchen could withdraw it if the sentencing did not come out as agreed upon. That is the disingenuous part- That they must have agreed to a conditional guilty plea, knowing full well that all the effective power to object was given to the plaintiff

The judge only accepts or rejects after both parties come to him with their agreement.

farce
Guest
farce
5 years ago

This smells suspiciously like bullshit. So she plead guilty to a 2 year sentence? And if the judge gives her 4 years (or more- as she deserves) than she gets to pull back her guilty plea?!! I’ve never heard of such a thing! AND…as a bonus for her she gets to roam free on bail until the next court date?! Because the judge has to consider and weigh many things that the judge has not had time to do in these last 2 friggin’ years?!! All I can guess is that her boyfriend Josh’s father Mel Pearlston- the longtime weed and drugs lawyer- is pulling some serious favors in on this one. Nothing else can explain this complete miscarriage of justice.

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
5 years ago
Reply to  farce

She has a custody hearing Sept 4, apparently she has plans for labor day

299 Commuter
Guest
299 Commuter
5 years ago
Reply to  Lone ranger

Do you think she will actually be taken into custody that day? I doubt it.

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
5 years ago
Reply to  299 Commuter

Nope, just shows you how much they don’t want to disrupt Marci’s life, she will get a slap and she will also get another dui in the near future

Diamond
Guest
Diamond
5 years ago
Reply to  farce

I agree! It’s definitely “who you know” in this case AND “who you blow”!

Joe phillips
Guest
Joe phillips
5 years ago

This system is all screwed up..

Diamond
Guest
Diamond
5 years ago

Mistake: it was NOT DUI causing injury…it WAS DUI causing death! What’s wrong with this picture indeed!

gunther
Guest
gunther
5 years ago

It appears someone high up is trying to sweep this all under the rug and they can’t quite pull it off because of the publicity. Slight of hand. Where is Faith’s parents in all this?

Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  gunther

Faith’s family is present and grieving terribly.
She ripped this family from their young girl and shows no remorse.
This judge needs to go back to where ever he came from and I hope this case haunts him for the rest of his days!
GET TOUGH ON CRIME.
She chose to drink, drive, hide her car then pretended to care for a minute.
This sentence does not fit the crime.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

She hasn’t been sentenced! Do you people even read the story and then use your brain before commenting?

TARA SAVAGE
Guest
TARA SAVAGE
5 years ago

This just makes me sick! She’s a murderer. She knew enough to go home and hide her car after she hit those young girls and left them to just lay there to die! Then didn’t she take off to South America or something afterwards? She should NOT have been let out on bail! And then they put off the next hearing until
Sept. 4th because she has plans for Labor day!!! WTH!!! Those girls will never get to make plans for Labor day or for any other Holiday ever again. And the parents of the other young lady will NEVER have another holiday with their child. I can’t even imagine what their holidays must be like without their child… This is just absolutely WRONG. Just my opinion.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago
Reply to  TARA SAVAGE

Labor Day? Really? If she is concerned about fricking Labor Day and the judge is sympathetic to her Labor Day cravings then they all should be locked away in a loony bin. Who the hell has this much shit hanging over their head and is concerned about Labor Day? No one!

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

I wonder about civil settlements and whether they played a part in this. So much of what goes on in the court system is really theater that is run by attorneys, for attorneys. Even those who sit through court cases are unlikely to have anywhere near all available information. So much of the time a juror is left with the feeling that something doesn’t make sense but that all the court officials to leaving it at that.

john
Guest
john
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

When that happens it is the duty of the juror to use nullification. Jury nullification is also part of our judicial system, just one that has been forgotten. People should read up on it. Its something we should bring back. A superior court judge agreed with me when I told him it needed to be used when a judge doesn’t do his/her job.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

2 years minimum, 4 years “high term”? That’s not right. Not right at all…

25 to Life
Guest
25 to Life
5 years ago

You mean if drive wasted, kill two teenagers, leave them bleeding on the street and then flee the scene and deny hitting the teens that I will only get 2 years punishment? Alright!!! I want 3 more Whiskey on the rocks and 2 shots of yager, who cares if I drive drunk and kill someone, it’s my business, I will only get two years because in Humboldt dui’s are unimportant, the only important crime is growing pot in the wrong zoning or not getting a permit. Yahoo, lets get wasted Humboldt, we all got a keep out of jail card like MarcinKitchen who killed her daughter and her friend and walked after 2 years……

Anne D.
Guest
Anne D.
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you kym… I was seriously wondering, cuz 2 years did sound incredibly light considering 2 young live lost..

Gardenchic
Guest
Gardenchic
5 years ago

I must respond by saying what the hell is with this county!! Catch and release day in and day out.
Drug zombies everywhere.
2 youths death by a drunk driver who fled the for quite some time. It doesnt matter if she was the mother – I personally feel thats even more discussing.
Decades of allowing growers to rape from our beautiful river and poisoning on our lands to the point there is a type of deer gone from here.
Missing young people who I can only imagine were/are some type of slaves.
I’m so mad I’m forgetting more abuses that have been overlooked/paid off.

Feel free to add to this post! If you feel the best comment you have is about my grammer/spelling…..then God Bless you!

fuzzy dude
Guest
fuzzy dude
5 years ago
Reply to  Gardenchic

I thought your grammar was pretty darn ok.

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago
Reply to  Gardenchic

Gardenchic, does anybody know why they have catch and release?

Condolences to those involved, sad.

Flatgirl
Guest
Flatgirl
5 years ago

Her sentence is the maximum prescribed by law. She is not getting any “deal”. And it has nothing to do with humboldt county. The utter ignorance displayed by commenters is breathtaking.
She will serve at least half of the approximately 11 years if she has no problems in prison.
She will carry the burden of killing her own daughter & her daughter’s friend for her entire life.
Who among us is without sin? Let him cast the first stone.

Anti troll league
Guest
Anti troll league
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

So the plea agreement taking time off is no “deal”? Hmm…

BTW you are assuming that she also has fulfilled the last part of that reference. That she has gone and sinned no more. Some of the remarks raised questions about that. Comments on other’s “utter ignorance” might be misplaced.

Flatgirl
Guest
Flatgirl
5 years ago

There is no DEAL. She pled guilty. No offer made by DA. NO DEAL IS INVOLVED HERE.
It is hard to believe any of you can read.

Testes, testes, one two...three?
Guest
Testes, testes, one two...three?
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

I’ve long ago come to realize all internet news forums are worthless cesspools of volatile stupidity. I see nothing but the words of lifeless souls desperate for affirmation.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago

Hmm, something about rubber and glue? Or is it a pot and a kettle?

Anti trolling league
Guest
Anti trolling league
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

Sigh. Sentence bargaining. Look it up. That is the gain for pleading guilty. A guilty plea is not the only type of bargaining that goes on. It is why the plea is conditional AS STATED BY THE JUDGE. (Wow getting exasperated in CAPS is interesting. Inarticulate but interesting.)

Just because the DA said they made no deal doesn’t mean there is no attempted dealing between the judge and the defense.

You didn’t have to get rude. But since you did, I will say that it is reading is clearly done but comprehension is very uncertain. Now has trading insults done anything for you? It makes me depressed because I prefer to think people can be better than that. A one sided insult is also depressing, so either way it’s ugly.

Flatgirl
Guest
Flatgirl
5 years ago

She is getting the legal MAXIMUM. There is no DEAL
How obtuse can you ALL be?

Gloria Johnston
Guest
Gloria Johnston
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

It doesn’t seem as though she has any regrets other than the fact that she got caught. She did everything that she could to avoid being caught including trying to get her son to lie for her. It seems that she is still not taking this very seriously since she has made plans for Labor Day. (Really?) Our legal system is sad. I can’t call it the justice system since most of the time justice is not served.

Emily
Guest
Emily
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

Yes thank u flatgirl that is the truth. If you (commenters) don’t like the laws you should educate yourself on ballot initiatives and VOTE.

Justice for Faith and Kiya
Guest
Justice for Faith and Kiya
5 years ago
Reply to  Flatgirl

Pretty sure that sentence offered is mid cap and not the maximim. Or else the Judge would not be permitting her to withdraw her guilty plea if he gives her more time. He said he will consider testimony from friends and family as well as the probation report. Time speak up and be heard. Be there September 4th. Or write Judge Cockrum at The Humboldt County Superior Court, 825 Fifth Street, Eureka CA 95501. Be heard!

Mogtx
Guest
5 years ago

I helped build the Madera women’s prison I hope that’s her new home

Poppins
Guest
Poppins
5 years ago

Can someone post a listing og the charges with the agreement condition for each charge. I appreciate the clarification.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago
Reply to  Poppins

No one can post that because that’s not what is happening here. The clarification is that today Marci Kitchen entered a guilty plea on all charges against her. She signed a document saying I am guilty. Now we wait for sentencing.

Halfdeaf
Guest
Halfdeaf
5 years ago

In San Luis Obispo county, they charge DUI-related deaths as 2nd degree murder…

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago
Reply to  Halfdeaf

Halfdeaf, does anybody know why Humboldt seems softer on crime tan other areas such as San Luis Obispo. Thank you.

Emily
Guest
Emily
5 years ago
Reply to  Al

It’s not Humboldt County it’s the state, and the uneducated voters, like yourself, who are the problem. If you don’t educate yourself on ballot initiatives, and just go off the Nice sounding names they are given, you are part of the problem.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Emily

But SLO county is in California too.

Mogtx
Guest
5 years ago

Its about time .!!!!! I wonder how she is preparing, for her years of incarceration, it s down to days soon it will be hours .Then it’s the realization of the cuffs being put on buy the bailiff, and you head to jail .

Testes, testes, one two...three?
Guest
Testes, testes, one two...three?
5 years ago

You commenters are sick. She killed her own daughter. That’s worse punishment than the law could ever sentence. May everybody involved find peace.

Anti troll league
Guest
Anti troll league
5 years ago

A psychopath would not think that way. But I can see how that a belief her suffering might be more comforting even if unproven.

Fred flintstone
Guest
Fred flintstone
5 years ago

Go back and pray for her , and then put money on her book’s, you should be her BFF.

Marge Evans
Guest
Marge Evans
5 years ago

I agree with these people she should be givin the hardest sentence possible for snuffing out those two young girls lives. Throw her in prison [edit]

Robash141
Guest
Robash141
5 years ago

She’s only “suffering” because she got caught. Marci Kitchen has done everything humanly possible to avoid taking responsibility for those girl’s deaths. She’s an utter failure as a mother or a human being.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago
Reply to  Robash141

No one except for her can say how she feels inside. And her “doing everything humanly possible to avoid taking responsibility” is really her just dealing with the legal side of this the way cases are dealt with in this country. Apparently most of you are clueless about any of that. She was arrested. She hired an attorney. She bailed out. Her attorneys counseled her and handled the formalities. She had permission from the courts to travel outside the county. She traveled. She came back. The courts wanted her passport. She gave it to them. She and/or her attorney showed up at every court date. She must not have gotten the change of venue her attorney requested. She voluntarily entered a guilty plea on all charges against her right before jury selection was going to begin. The judge accepted it and agreed to not take her into custody now because she has not run and has cooperated and obeyed her conditions of being out on bail. Now we all just wait for the next court procedure. It’s just the way our courts work. If our judges let emotion dictate his/her decisions the way most of you let them dictate your opinions we all would be in a world of trouble.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

You sound you believe familiarity with the court system is a good thing. Unless you work there, that just says you have experience and probably from one position.

BTW only a fool thinks that judge’s emotions are not in play. Just question the authority or accuracy of one in court and learn how the arrogance of power shouldn’t be confused with emotional distance.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Actually everything I stated in my comment was information that I’ve read on this website about this case. Whether or not I am familiar with the court system doesn’t even matter, it’s all printed in black and white right in front of our eyes. All these yahoos on here complaining about I can’t believe the judge didn’t take her into custody right now should try reading the story. If they did it should be obvious that she is out on bail. Get it?

Fred flintstone
Guest
Fred flintstone
5 years ago

Bleeding heart’s is why she is out , poor girl ,set her free and give her a 🍸🍸& 🚗 .

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago

She posted bail! That is why she’s out, nothing to do with bleeding or hearts, she simply posted bail. Soon she will no longer be out, she will be incarcerated and on her way to whichever prison the state sends her to.

Shawnee
Guest
Shawnee
5 years ago

All right Donny Mills…..time to speak up about what YOU SAW THAT DAY!

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

“Should it ever be your misfortune, gentlemen, or mine, to need to kill a man, let us toast together the possibility that our trials may be held in this camp.”

J Dubbs
Guest
J Dubbs
5 years ago

I don’t spend much time in town, is she out and about like a normal person going shopping, getting gas, going to restaurants, etc? Do people see her around doing her thing? And how is she treated over all?