To most, like Rhonda Messer, Diane Luke was the type of friend, and neighbor everyone wanted to be around. "Diane was a very loving, caring, giving friend. She would do anything for anybody. She's, she's just great." Diane's neighbor, Maxine Ruhterford added, "she always helped my kids, when my kids needed help. She was teaching my youngest on how to sign."
Some say it was that generous trait that prompted her, and her husband to open their door for 30 year old Shanda Mollison, when she asked for a drink of water just before one Thursday morning. But when Mollison began to act strangely, the couple asked her to leave. "She got mad. She was standing on the couch, and she had jumped off the couch, and just stabbed her, right in her chest," according to Rutherford.
Officers from the Chico Police Department arrived on scene moments after one to find Diane stabbed in her apartment, and neighbors holding the suspect. "The suspect in that had fled, and some bi-standers saw her, and were able to detain her," according to Chico Police Sergeant Scott Franssen.
Officers then took Mollison into custody for homicide. Even though they are confident they have the right suspect, Sgt. Franssen says they're still confused as to what led to this violent outburst. "We are currently still investigating, and trying to get down to the details of what Mollison was doing there at that hour, and hopefully we'll have some answers on that in the coming days."
While many questions are still in the air, one thing is for sure. This family, and all of those Diane touched, will never be the same.
