A story that will warm your heart

Thieves ransack home of Sonoma family killed by speeding Mini Cooper

Bay Area News Group staff and wire services
Posted: 12/01/2009 03:48:32 PM PST
Updated: 12/01/2009 04:24:01 PM PST


The home of a Sonoma family of four killed when a speeding Mini Cooper
plowed into their minivan over the weekend was robbed Monday night,
according to news reports.

Sonoma Police Chief Bret Sackett told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
that a family friend called police at around 7 a.m. to report the
garage door at the home of the Johnathan Maloney was open.

Arriving officers discovered the break in at the home, where a
makeshift memorial of cards and flowers were stacked at the front
door. A side door leading to the garage had been forced open.

Authorities said it appeared that the crime was committed by more than
one person and that the individuals took their time going through the
family's belongings.

"It's incredibly despicable," the police chief told the newspaper,
which described the home as torn apart by the thieves. "It's such a
tragic event for a family already suffering."

Among the items stolen was the family's other car, 2006 silver Nissan
350z. Police are searching for the car, which has California plates
5XOH067.

Maloney's 19-year-old daughter by a previous marriage arrived at the
home Tuesday afternoon, the Press Democrat reported on its Web site.
She said she was too distraught to discuss the death of the family or
the burglarly.

Authorities are relying on family members to help determine what was
taken from the house, Sackett told the newspaper.

The Maloneys, who were returning early from a
Hawaiian vacation, were killed in a crash that occurred at about 9:20
p.m. Saturday on state Highway 37.

CHP Sgt. Trent Cross said a Mini Cooper driven by 19-year-old Steven
Culbertson went through a red light at the intersection of Lakeville
Road and their Nissan Quest minivan.

Johnathan Maloney, 45, was driving the Nissan with his wife, 42-year-
old Susan Maloney, and their two young children, 5-year-old Grace and
8-year-old Aiden. All four family members were pronounced dead at the
scene.

Culbertson suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local
hospital where he died on Sunday, Cross said.

Two other vehicles were involved in the wreck, but no one else was
seriously injured.

After hitting the Honda, the driver of the Mini Cooper continued south
on Lakeville Road and ran a red light at Highway 37. Cross said he was
driving about 100 mph.