Sentinel staff report–
An 86-year-old woman who was knocked over by one of three fleeing robbery suspects at a Citrus Heights Rite Aid on Monday has died, police confirmed Saturday. All three suspects are still at large.
Citrus Heights Police Lt. Alex Turcotte said the woman, later identified by the coroner’s office as Marilyn Stribley, died Saturday after being taken to the hospital in critical condition following the Nov. 27 robbery. The incident is now considered by police as a robbery that resulted in the death of a victim, but Turcotte said the District Attorney will ultimately determine whether the suspects will face enhanced charges based on the death.
A reward of up to $10,000 has been offered by the Rite Aid Corporation for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbery suspects. Lt. Turcotte said detectives continue to actively pursue leads in the case.
In an initial news release issued Thursday evening, police said a 911 call was received around 5:50 p.m. on Nov. 27 regarding the robbery, located at the Rite Aid store at the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Van Maren Lane. After arriving on scene, officers determined that three suspects had jumped the counter of the pharmacy and demanded prescription drugs. Police said employees feared for their safety and handed over “an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs.”
As the suspects ran out of the store, a security video shows one of them plowing over an elderly woman who was entering the store. Police said the woman was knocked unconscious after falling backwards on the ground.
Upon contacting the woman, police said she had no pulse and life-saving measures were performed by officers and Metro Fire personnel. She was subsequently transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Responding officers were unable to locate any of the suspects, following an extensive search of the area. All three suspects are described as black males, age 18-20.
See suspect photos in prior story: $10,000 reward offered after Rite Aid robbery
Police said a follow-up investigation also showed the same suspects had “entered and cased another pharmacy” located outside of Citrus Heights prior to Monday’s robbery, although no robbery was committed at the other location.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspects involved is asked to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department at (916) 727-5500, or using the department’s anonymous tip line at (916) 727-5524.
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