(Woodland, CA) – April 20, 2015 – Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on April 16, 2015, a jury convicted 19-year-old Marissa Price, from Woodland, on charges of carjacking, robbery, and vehicle theft. The jury convicted her crime partner 23-year-old Vanessa McKee-Salazar, also from Woodland, of vehicle theft and grand theft.
On November 8, 2014, Veterans Day Weekend, the victim left his car running in his driveway only feet away from his home while he finished getting both himself and his 9-year-old daughter ready to hang flags in downtown Woodland for Veterans Day.
At approximately 6:00 a.m., while the victim was inside his home, he heard female voices outside followed by the sound of his car door slamming shut.
Witnesses at trial testified that Price and McKee-Salazar, who were riding their bikes through town, had seen the car running and left unattended. They agreed to take the running car and started to put their plan into action. Meanwhile, the victim, believing his daughter had gotten into the car, rushed to the front door to see his car backing out of his driveway while McKee-Salazar was attempting to get in through the passenger door of his car.
The victim ran past McKee-Salazar and attempted to get into his car. Price, who was driving the victim’s car, immediately jolted the car backwards towards where the victim was. Price then placed the car into drive and floored the car forward. As a result, the victim was thrown to the ground.
Price was able to get away, but the victim was able to see the direction she went when she escaped. The victim then turned his attention to McKee-Salzar and was able to detain her, while she made several threats to him, until police arrived shortly thereafter. Police later found Price walking by herself approximately a half mile down the road. The victim suffered only minor injuries.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Judge David Reed on May 18, 2015. Price faces a maximum penalty of 9 years in prison, while McKee-Salazar faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison.
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