It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Mari Bonnici, 38, of Santa Rosa, California, who tragically died on Sunday, August 10, 2025 in an apparent murder-suicide.
On Sunday, August 10, 2025, at approximately 7:02 p.m., Santa Rosa Police Department officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an injured woman at an apartment in the 4600 block of Quigg Drive.
Police say a neighbor called 911 after a man, later identified as 44-year-old Jeremy Lyle, brought an infant to her apartment, asked her to call for help, and said the child’s mother was hurt. Lyle then left the area in an unknown vehicle and direction.
When officers arrived, they found 38-year-old Mari Bonnici unresponsive on a couch in the living room. She was pronounced dead at the scene from what appeared to be at least one gunshot wound. Two other children, identified as twin toddlers, were found unharmed in a back bedroom.
Lyle died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound at the parking lot of the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office, located at 3336 Chanate Road.
All three children, believed to be those of Lyle and Bonnici, are now in the care of relatives. Authorities later confirmed both Lyle and Bonnici were employed by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office at the time of this incident. Lyle, a Deputy Sheriff, and Bonnici, a Detention Specialist, were both off-duty when this incident occurred. .
The investigation remains active, and police are searching for Lyle’s whereabouts.
Mari was a devoted mother whose greatest joy in life was her three young children, including her beloved twins. She was known by friends, neighbors, and family for her kindness, warmth, and unwavering love for her family.
Her life was marked by compassion, resilience, and a selfless dedication to those she loved most. Mari’s nurturing spirit touched everyone who knew her, and her memory will remain a source of strength for all who mourn her loss.
She is survived by her three children, who are now in the loving care of family members.
The family kindly requests privacy during this profoundly difficult time as they grieve and focus on caring for Mari’s children.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
