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Repeat offender with violent past accused of murdering woman during home invasion
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A man with a long history of arrests is now accused of killing a woman during a home invasion in a quiet San Francisco neighborhood, a case that is renewing scrutiny of California’s mental-health diversion system.
Cassidy Wyatt Allen, 45, appeared in court Wednesday to face special-circumstance murder and first-degree burglary charges in the death of 38-year-old Jessica Alejandra Sanchez Landaverde. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office announced the charges in a news release.
DA Brooke Jenkins, speaking to KTVU, said Allen could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
“Our hearts break for this family,” Jenkins told the outlet. “It does not appear they had any connection to one another and so, yes again, this is one of the sadly, most scariest types of crimes that we can imagine, happening.”
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San Francisco Police said Cassidy Wyatt Allen was charged with special-circumstance murder in the killing of a woman inside her home in San Francisco’s Ingleside District. (Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the DA’s office, police were dispatched just before 3 p.m. on Nov. 23 to a home on the 200 block of Granada Avenue after a tenant returned and heard someone inside rush to the front door and lock it.
“Terrified and alarmed, she ran back to her vehicle and called 911,” the district attorney’s office said.
When officers arrived, they saw that a window near the front door was slightly open and the blinds were bent, even though the front door appeared untouched. When they pushed it open, they discovered Sanchez Landaverde lying on her back near the foot of the bed. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Later that day, officers responding to a welfare check near 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard located a man matching the description of a person of interest in the killing. Police detained him and identified him as Allen. Investigators determined they had probable cause to arrest him.
Allen was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder and first-degree burglary. He is being held without bail, according to jail records.
His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.
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According to jail records, Cassidy Wyatt Allen is being held without bail in connection to the violent home invasion that left a woman dead. (Google Maps)
A review of court records shows this was not his first encounter with the criminal justice system. Court records reviewed by The California Post show he previously faced arrests for second-degree robbery, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting injury on an elder or dependent adult, and possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.
Allen also had a run-in with police in Del Norte County in 2022. Capt. Kyle Stevens of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital that Allen was arrested on Jan. 28, 2022, by the Crescent City Police Department for violating Penal Code §415.3 for using offensive or provocative words in public that are likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.
“He was basically challenging people to a fight,” Stevens said.
Allen was booked into the Del Norte County Jail and released the same day on a promise to appear. Stevens said Allen never returned for a court appearance and no warrant was issued, which typically indicates prosecutors declined to pursue the case.
Stevens emphasized that Allen was not a resident of Del Norte County and had no other law enforcement contacts there. He appeared to be a transient individual passing through the region, likely continuing south toward the Bay Area after his release.
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San Francisco Police arrested Cassidy Wyatt Allen in a murder case. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
At least one earlier case resulted in Allen being placed in California’s mental health diversion program, a system that steers eligible defendants into treatment instead of incarceration. If participants comply with treatment and avoid new arrests, charges may be paused or dismissed.
Under Penal Code §1001.36, judges must determine whether a defendant’s mental health disorder significantly contributed to the offense and whether they pose an “unreasonable risk” to public safety before granting diversion.
Critics argue the program has expanded too far, sometimes encompassing defendants with violent histories.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is among those warning that the diversion statute has become a loophole misused by chronic offenders.
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“There’s room for diversion somewhere, especially someone that has an addiction problem,” Cooper previously told Fox News Digital. “But what’s happened is they open the gates wide. So right now everyone’s taking advantage of it. A lot of criminals are. They’re really abusing the system, and that’s the unfortunate part about it.”
While Allen’s current charges, special-circumstance murder and first-degree burglary, are explicitly barred from diversion eligibility under state law, his earlier placement into the program despite repeated arrests is likely to intensify debate over how judges assess risk.
Neighbors told KTVU they were stunned that such a violent attack occurred in their typically quiet and safe neighborhood.
“I am saddened by it because I think our city is generally going in the right direction. We’ve turned the corner,” neighbor Rose Galloway said. “Incidents like this are going to happen in a big city every once in a while. I’m sad to hear about it happening so close to us.”
Neighbors told the outlet they often see a foot patrol officer along Ocean Boulevard and say the area generally feels safe.
“I have seen this neighborhood change for the better over the years. It’s incredible,” said Garrett Naro. “Crime is not something we think about. It’s very safe.”
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The case is now being handled by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Homicide Unit. Investigators say they are still gathering evidence and urge anyone with information to contact the San Francisco Police Department tip line at 1-415-575-4444.
Fox News Digital reached out to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder hosted her first community listening session Thursday night since returning from a three-month medical leave.
Dozens of District 9 residents packed the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center to welcome back Fielder and voice concerns about issues affecting their communities.
“We are thankful that you took time for yourself to equip yourself to be sitting here today,” one attendee told Fielder. “So I thank you and commend you for returning.”
Fielder returned to City Hall last month after taking a three-month medical leave.
“I’m just grateful for the outpouring of support that I had and glad to be back on the job,” Fielder said. “Mental health is really prevalent, and I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I had a mental health crisis. This is a challenging job, and I’m very privileged to be here.”
Fielder said she is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings to give residents an opportunity to voice their concerns.
“To me, the biggest issue locally is the homeless issue, and it’s citywide,” San Francisco resident Maggie Weis said.
Fielder was joined by members of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and San Francisco Police Department to answer questions about pedestrian safety, city budget cuts and other issues.
The supervisor said one of her priorities moving forward is expanding access to clean, well-maintained public restrooms.
“[We’re] still seeing a lot of feces around the district and city,” Fielder said. “Would love to see our city have more public bathrooms and be able to maintain them as well.”
The next listening session is scheduled for July 23 at 6 p.m. at La Fénix in the Mission.
Watch the full report from KRON4’s Sara Stinson in the video player at the top of the story.
DENVER — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is launching a $100 million plan to boost the local economy and support 10,000 jobs over the next three years.
Johnston announced the four-part program Thursday morning, flanked by business leaders while praising downtown businesses like brunch eatery Snooze.
▶️ WATCH: Denver7’s Alex Dowd reports on the plan
Denver mayor promises to create 10K jobs in next 3 years
Snooze Co-Founder Adam Schlegel said his business benefited from a similar program when U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper was mayor in the early 2000s.
“The city really was the one that stepped up,” Schlegel said. “We wouldn’t have started if it wouldn’t have been for the economic development office. We ended up getting an incentive from the city to open up, particularly in this space [downtown]. It was a fiscal incentive to do it, in addition to coaching.”
Both of those are offered in the new four-part Denver Jobs Agenda. With funding from the Denver Downtown Development Authority and the Office of Economic Development and Opportunity, Johnston aims to develop start-ups in the city, grow existing businesses and draw in new companies while working to advance the Denver-area workforce across industries.
At the end of the last fiscal quarter, Denver’s unemployment rate hovered around 3.6% — under the national rate of 4.2% — according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while office vacancy sits just under 40%, according to commercial real estate broker CBRE.
Johnston and other speakers made multiple references to more jobs bringing more people downtown.
“Denver has so many things going for it, so it will come back,” Schlegel said. “It’s not coming back as fast as I want, or as much as anyone will, but will it have a long-term future? 100%. It’s things like this, though, that I think give us a lot of hope that it can happen sooner than waiting it out.”
▶️ Watch the full press conference
Press conference: Denver mayor announces Denver Jobs Agenda
Chris Berthiaume, the city’s director of workforce industry initiatives, says the three workforce development centers across Denver serve around 20,000 people each year. He’s confident this new initiative will help more of those visitors find employment.
“We want to focus on things like aerospace, cybersecurity, green construction,” Berthiaume said. “This new initiative really just tightens the focus on sectors that we know are growing. Colorado is home to a huge aerospace culture. Quantum technology is emerging and coming. Green workforce are jobs that we know drive around Denver. Construction is everywhere. We need to make sure we have a skilled workforce that’s ready to take on those jobs.”
While also finding employers to hire them and stay within the community for the long haul.
“I think the reason businesses work — certainly restaurants work — is that you are integral to the community specifically where you are,” Schlegel said. “There are so many people in our community that really believe in Denver and want to see what it can be, and so it will get there.”
It’s well on the way. Denver’s Economic Development Corporation says they’re working with 52 active prospects that could bring more than 12,000 jobs to the area.
Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
Global entertainment company Webtoon is returning to the hallowed halls of San Diego Comic-Con with a larger-than-life slate of panels featuring top talent and fresh announcements.
They will be shining the spotlight on some of today’s most engaging webcomic creators, including Derek V. Song (Fantasy High) and Punko (Cinderella Boy).
Let’s take a look at their schedule:
Thursday, July 23 – 10am – Room 29AB
Creature Craft: Visionaries of Horror Comics Share Their Secrets
This panel features Punko, creator of Stagtown and Cinderella Boy on WEBTOON; Cullen Bunn, creator of Ripcord and Deluge for Ignition Press; and Cat Staggs, co-creator of Death Mask, and artist on Tales for a HalloweeNight for Storm King Comics. Rotem Rusak, Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist, will moderate.
Friday, July 24 – 10am – Room 32AB
Love in Every Universe: The Great Romance Trope Debate
Join ROSEOAK, creator of Not So Silent on WEBTOON, Alessandra Ferreri, Head of Content at Wattpad, E.M. Wilson, author of Situationship, and Becca Erin Title, founder of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop. The panel is moderated by Crystal Bell, the Culture Editor at Mashable.
Friday, July 24 – 1pm – Room 32AB
Adapting Fantasy High for WEBTOON with Derek V. Song
Featuring Derek V. Song, writer of Fantasy High. Fans will get a behind-the-scenes look at adapting the beloved Dimension 20 series for WEBTOON and learn more about bringing the world of Fantasy High to a new visual format.
Saturday, July 25 – 11:30am – Room 24ABC
What’s Next from WEBTOON Entertainment
Featuring Ryan Lee, Head of Content at WEBTOON; Sydney Bright, Head of Global Animation at WEBTOON Productions; Erik Kozura, Producer at WEBTOON; ROSEOAK, creator of Not So Silent; Derek V. Song, writer of Fantasy High; Punko, creator of Stagtown and Cinderella Boy; and Ucheomaaa, creator of Vibe Check! on WEBTOON. Journalist, comic critic, and 2026 Eisner judge, Tiffany Babb, will moderate. his panel will deliver a slew of announcements, exclusive first looks, and Creator appearances from its platform and entertainment businesses. Additionally, the panel will give fans a window into what’s next from WEBTOON’s most exciting stories and projects, with news from WEBTOON Originals, WEBTOON Productions, WEBTOON Unscrolled, and more.
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