Former UC Santa Cruz student who is accused of murdering his girlfriend is fit to stand trial, court record says
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)-UPDATE ON APRIL 24, 2024 at 6:18 PM- A former UC Santa Cruz student who is accused of murdering his girlfriend in late February has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial.
According to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court records, 20-year-old Samuel Stone has been deemed competent to stand trial after results showed from both mental health evaluations that he is competent to stand trial.
Stone pleaded not guilty for one count of murder with special enhancements for a serious felony violation and a violent felony alelgation.
He is accused of killing his girlfriend, 21-year-old Zainab Mansoor who was a student at UC Santa Cruz.
On Feb. 23, Mansoor was found unconscious by Santa Cruz Police after Stone called 911 and told them that "a homicide had just occurred and somehow he was involved," according to Santa Cruz Police.
Mansoor died at a local hospital from her injuries.
Stone's next court appearance will be on May 2 for a preliminary examination.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court requests mental health evaluation for former UC Santa Cruz student accused of killing his girlfriend
UPDATE ON MARCH 13, 2024 AT 1:23 P.M.- A former UC Santa Cruz Student who is accused of murdering his girlfriend made his second court appearance on Wednesday morning.
According to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court, a mental health evaluation has been requested to see if Samuel Stone is fit to stand trial.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office said that the defense attorney declared the doubt according to penal code section 1368.
Stone was suppose to enter a plea for allegedly killing his girlfriend 21-year-old Zainab Mansoor of San Ramon.
He currently is facing murder charges plus serious felony violation and a violent felony allegation.
On Feb. 23, Stone was arrested after Mansoor was located unconscious right next to him at Seabright Beach. Mansoor was taken to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries.
Stone will be in court on April 4 at 8:15 a.m. Stone is still in custody at the Santa Cruz County Jail
Former UC Santa Cruz student doesn't enter plea in first court appearance, victim identified
UPDATE ON FEB. 27, 2024 AT 3:30 PM- The 20-year-old former UC Santa Cruz student who is accused of murdering his girlfriend did not enter a plea in his first court appearance.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office said that Samuel Stone's defense team asked for a continuance.
Stone was arrested on Feb. 23 after they found a 21-year-old woman unconscious on Seabright Beach.
The woman was later transported to Dominican Hospital where she later died.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office have identified the woman as 21-year-old Zainab Mansoor of San Ramon.
Stone is facing murder charges as well as violent felony charges. The District Attorney's Office said Stone will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
Stone will be in court on March 13 at 8:15 a.m.
21-year-old woman who was found dead on Seabright Beach was a UC Santa Cruz student, school confirms
UPDATE ON FEB. 26, 2024 AT 5:56 PM- UC Santa Cruz confirmed to KION that a 21-year-old woman who was found dead on Seabright Beach on Friday morning was a UC Santa Cruz Student.
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive confirmed the death of the woman in a statement that was sent to students and faculty on Monday morning.
Officers with the Santa Cruz Police Department were called to the scene and, along with first responders, attempted to save her life. She was taken to Dominican Hospital, where she later died. At the family’s request, we are not sharing her name.
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive said in a statement
The incident occurred on Friday morning when Santa Cruz Police said that they found the 21-year-old woman unconscious with the 20-year-old Stone right next to her.
Santa Cruz Police said that they attempted lifesaving measures on the woman before she was transported to Dominican Hospital where she died from her injuries.
Larive also said in her statement that Stone was a student who was no longer enrolled at the university.
UC Santa Cruz is offering counseling services at this time for any student or faculty member that needs services.
Santa Cruz Police told KION that they are awaiting the results of the autopsy report to determine how the woman died.
Stone is currently at the Santa Cruz County Jail on homicide charges.
Original Story
The Santa Cruz Police Department announced they arrested a 20-year-old Santa Cruz man on murder charges after he allegedly killed his girlfriend.
Officers said they received a report of a possible homicide at Seabright Beach around 1:15 a.m. early Friday morning.
According to investigators, they located 20-year-old Samuel Stone near the beach waterline. Officers also found a body next to Stone of a 21-year-old Santa Cruz woman who was unconscious.
Santa Cruz Police said that they attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics transported her to Dominican Hospital where she later died.
Stone was arrested and taken into the Santa Cruz County Jail on homicide charges. Investigators learned that Stone and the woman were in a relationship.
KION reached out to Santa Cruz Police about what led up to the incident taking place and we are waiting to hear back.
