Samuel Enderwick Hartbower, 33 of Yuba City, was arraigned this afternoon in Yuba County Superior Court on murder and assault charges stemming from an attack on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at the Save Mart in Marysville.
The attack left 64-year-old Save Mart Assistant Manager Doug Eid dead, and a good Samaritan injured. Hartbower faces a life sentence for each charge should he be convicted.
Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry said initial evidence indicated Hartbower attacked Eid with a knife after being asked to leave the store. A shopper, Robert Balderaz, saw the attack and intervened to stop it. Balderaz suffered two lacerations that required stitches at the hospital. Other good Samaritans stopped Hartbower from fleeing and held him until Marysville Police arrived.
At his arraignment today, Hartbower was assigned a public defender. He entered not guilty pleas. His next court date is Nov. 4, 2026, at 1:30p.m. Hartbower was denied bail at the request of the District Attorney. He will remain in custody.
Hartbower is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.