NEVADA CITY, Calif. November 28, 2017 – A vehicle was recovered by Nevada County Sheriff’s deputies on Monday evening after being stolen from a Penn Valley gas station over the Thanksgiving weekend. The vehicle, a 1993 Dodge Caravan, belonged to two Chilean nationals – one of whom attempted suicide on Thanksgiving.
A 911 call at 1:30 on Thanksgiving reported a possible suicide in the Penn Valley area. Officers successfully located the victim and the reporting party in a remote part of the area. The victim had no pulse and officers began CPR while calling for emergency services to respond. The 31-year old was transported to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital by ambulance, accompanied by his girlfriend who was the reporting party.
Their vehicle was left in the Taco Shell parking lot where it was stolen some time between Thanksgiving and Sunday. A report was filed by a translator working at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, stating the vehicle was locked and left on scene.
On Monday evening at 5:42 pm, NCSO officers approached a seemingly disabled vehicle at the intersection of Hwy 49 and 20 near Uren Street in Nevada City. Inside, they located three individuals who stated they were attempting to restart the vehicle after breaking down. The vehicle’s license plate matched that of the stolen Dodge Caravan and officers arrested two suspects after questioning them.
32-year old Todd Chappell, a Nevada City resident was arrested for possession of stolen property and an outstanding warrant from 2015. He was taken into custody without incident.
19-year old Emma St. Clair, also a Nevada City resident, has been booked for possession of stolen property, attempting to obfuscate her identity and trying to escape the arrest.
The vehicle was returned to the rightful owner.
Sadly, Jesus Sevidra succumbed to his self-inflicted injury on Saturday. His next of kin have been notified.