Sacramento man raped woman, killed her and her dogs, and lit house on fire: police

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TCD) -- A 51-year-old Northern California man was arrested last week after police say he broke into a woman’s home, raped her, killed her and her two dogs, and lit the house on fire.

According to the Sacramento Police Department, arson investigators and the Sacramento Fire Department responded to a blaze on the 2200 block of 11th Avenue on September 3. While there, they found a deceased woman inside the residence. Homicide detectives from the Sacramento Police Department and crime scene investigators arrived on scene to assist.

Sacramento Police announced they arrested Troy Davis September 4 for a parole violation and additional warrants that were unrelated to the current murder investigation of the 61-year-old woman found in her home. Police say they do not believe Davis and the victim knew each other.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office inmate records show he was additionally charged with murder, rape while in the commission of a burglary, arson, burglary, and malicious maiming of animals. He was being held without bail.

The Sacramento Bee identified the victim as Mary Tibbitts, who was more commonly referred to as Kate. Her two dogs that were killed in the attack were identified as Molly and Jenny.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Davis is reportedly homeless and was caught on a Ring camera earlier in the week masturbating on a nearby front porch. Davis' criminal background reportedly extends into Santa Cruz County as well, with cases going back to 2013. He was reportedly arrested in June for car theft but was released from jail.

Davis was reportedly let out due to California’s new zero bail policy, which went into effect recently and reportedly mandates people cannot be left in jail because they cannot afford bail, according to the Los Angeles Times. After Tibbitts' murder, lawmakers in Sacramento, including the city’s mayor, are calling for changes to prevent other crimes similar to this.

KXTV-TV reports Davis appeared in court on Tuesday and did not enter a plea for the charges against him. He is reportedly eligible for the death penalty.

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