Crime
Marysville officer Osmar Rodarte Killed in Olivehurst Shooting During Search Warrant Operation
Marysville, Calif. — The Marysville Police Department has identified the officer killed in the line of duty while executing a search warrant in Yuba County as Officer Osmar Rodarte.
In a statement, the department honored Rodarte’s service and sacrifice.
“Officer Rodarte was more than a colleague; he was a friend, a father, an Army veteran, and a true hero,” the department said in a press release.
Rodarte, a two-year veteran of the Marysville Police Department and a U.S. Army veteran, was fatally shot while serving a search warrant in Olivehurst as part of a years-long investigation by the Yuba Sutter Narcotics and Gang Task Force Unit.
The operation targeted a transnational drug trafficking ring involved in the movement of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.
The shooting occurred on Kestrel Court in Olivehurst, where law enforcement officers came under fire.
Authorities confirmed that the suspected shooter was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Rodarte’s death marks the first line-of-duty death for the Marysville Police Department in more than a century.
Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs expressed deep sorrow over the loss of one of their own.
“This is a sad day in the city of Marysville. We lost an officer today who was near and dear to our hearts,” Sachs said.
He added that the department is taking time to grieve and honor Rodarte’s memory.
“We are taking today to honor him and mourn the loss of a loved one, a brother, a father, and just a close friend of ours,” Sachs said.
As the city mourns, the Marysville Police Department has organized a procession in Officer Rodarte’s honor.
The procession will begin at Lakeside Chapel at 830 D Street in Marysville at 9:30 a.m., traveling to Placer County.
The public is invited to line the sidewalks along the route to pay their respects to the fallen officer.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
Crime
Elgin Public Schools Teacher Holly Hill Dies From Complications Two Years After Drinking Poisoned Margarita
ELGIN, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has launched a formal investigation into the death of Holly Hill, a 30-year-old teacher, wife, and mother from Elgin, Oklahoma, who died last week from long-term medical complications reportedly caused by ingesting a poisoned margarita at a local restaurant in 2023.
OSBI officials confirmed that the investigation began at the request of Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka following Hill’s death on Thursday.
According to Hill’s family, her health issues began on Valentine’s Day 2023, when she dined at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin.
During the evening, Hill ordered a second margarita that, unbeknownst to her, contained a highly caustic industrial cleaning chemical rather than the intended cocktail ingredients.
“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” recalled Kelly Hunter, Hill’s mother. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, and rinsing her mouth out with water.”
The ingestion caused severe internal burns to Hill’s esophagus and digestive tract, leading to two years of intense medical treatment.
Hill underwent more than 60 medical procedures, including repeated esophageal dilations and surgeries, as doctors attempted to repair the extensive damage.
Despite her deteriorating health, Hill continued teaching at Elgin Public Schools, where she was described as a dedicated educator loved by her students and colleagues.
In the days leading up to her death, Hill’s family believed she was finally recovering.
On October 17, doctors reportedly told them that her esophagus appeared to be healing. However, her condition suddenly worsened, and she went into cardiac arrest as medical staff prepared to transfer her. “As they were trying to get her ready to transport her, they lost her pulse,” Hunter said.
Hill’s family previously filed a civil lawsuit against Hacienda Las Margaritas, which was settled confidentially earlier this year, according to their attorney.
Following her death, the family is renewing calls for accountability and public awareness.
“The number one thing we really want at this point is for people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them,” Hunter said. “We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life. It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause.”
The restaurant has not issued a recent public statement regarding Hill’s death. In a 2023 social media post, management wrote:
“We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case.”
Local officials confirmed that Elgin Police requested assistance from OSBI, and investigators are now reviewing evidence related to the original 2023 incident and Hill’s recent death.
In a statement, Elgin Public Schools expressed deep sorrow over Hill’s passing, describing her as “an Owl through and through” and asking the community to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.
Hill leaves behind her husband and young child, as well as a community still reeling from a tragedy that began with what should have been an ordinary night out.