The Sonoma County community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of 38-year-old Mari Bonnici, a devoted mother of three and respected detention specialist with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, whose life was tragically cut short on Sunday in Santa Rosa.
Authorities say Mari was killed in her home by her former partner, 44-year-old Jeremy Lyle, an off-duty deputy from the same agency. Police report that the incident occurred around 7 p.m. at an apartment on Quigg Drive, where Mari lived with her three young children.
Following the fatal shooting, Lyle reportedly knocked on a neighbor’s door, handed over an infant, and told the resident that the child’s mother was injured. That neighbor immediately called 911. Responding officers entered Mari’s home and found her unresponsive on the living room couch. Two twin toddlers were discovered in a back bedroom. Thankfully, all three children were physically unharmed and are now in the care of family members.
Investigators revealed that Mari and Lyle had been in a domestic partnership but were separated at the time of her death. After leaving the scene, Lyle was located within the hour in the parking lot of the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office. There, he engaged in a tense standoff with law enforcement that lasted until about 2 a.m., when he took his own life.
Mari Bonnici was deeply admired by colleagues for her professionalism, compassion, and commitment to her work. She dedicated herself to supporting the Sheriff’s Office and the people of Sonoma County, while also balancing the responsibilities of motherhood. Friends and coworkers remember her as a warm, steady presence—someone who cared fiercely for her children and approached life with quiet strength.
Her sudden and violent loss has left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew her. This tragedy also marks Santa Rosa’s third murder-suicide of 2025 and its ninth homicide of the year, according to police, underscoring the devastating reality of domestic violence.
Mari’s life will be honored and remembered not only for the dedication she showed in her profession, but for the love, guidance, and stability she gave her children. She leaves behind a legacy of service, strength, and care—one that will be carried forward in the memories of her family, friends, and colleagues.
Funeral arrangements and memorial details are expected to be announced in the coming days as the community rallies to support her children and loved ones during this unimaginable time.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a more personal tribute version that focuses heavily on Mari’s life story and personality rather than just the news details. That might give a fuller, more human picture of her legacy.
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