California woman charged with homicide, violent attacks after Santa Cruz arrest
Northern California investigators have tied a 24-year-woman to a homicide and the stabbing of a sportswriter during a two-week period in 2017.
The suspect, Sydney Megan Whalen, is being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of assault and robbery for a third violent incident during those two weeks.
According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Whalen struck a man in the head with a hammer and stole his keys and wallet. She was arrested on August 1, 2017.
The Santa Clara County district attorney’s office said Whalen has been charged with attempted murder for July 21, 2017 robbing and stabbing of Bay Area News Group hockey writer Paul Gackle. There is no evidence he was attacked because of his profession.
Whalen is also charged in Alameda County with robbing and beating to death a 44-year-old father of four in a Motel 6.
Jail records don’t indicate if she has a lawyer.
