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Additional Details Released on Triple Homicide Case
While many details cannot be released or are yet to be determined due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is releasing some additional information on the triple homicide that occurred on December 28, 2018.
The person who called 911 lived at the residence and had returned home to find her friend, victim Nicole McNabb, covered with blood in the bathtub. She fled the home and called for help. Victim Carlos Echavarria also lived at the residence and was a friend of victim Melanie McNabb. The motive for this brutal act of violence is still under investigation and has not been determined. All three victims lived at the residence and were brutally beaten and stabbed. Autopsies are pending but there is no preliminary evidence to indicate that any of the victims were shot.
Due to his 2014 domestic violence conviction, suspect David McNabb was not legally permitted to own or possess a firearm. Detectives ar e in the process of trying to determine the ownership of the rifle that he was armed with when confronted by deputies. Other than his domestic violence conviction, suspect David McNabb did not appear to have any other criminal history.
After McNabb was shot by deputies with less lethal munitions, he remained armed and a threat to deputies. A total of two deputies deployed less lethal munitions and four deputies shot at McNabb. An autopsy for David McNabb is scheduled for Thursday, January 3, 2019.
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that David McNabb’s younger brother, 40-year-old Brian McNabb of Santa Maria, had previously assaulted another family member at Brian McNabb’s residence in the City of Santa Maria prior to the triple homicide incident on December 28, 2018. On December 30, 2018, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Brian McNabb at his home. He was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of battery with serious bodily injury and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
Identities of Homicide Victims and Suspect Released
The Sheriff’s Office has completed next of kin notifications and is releasing the names of three homicide victims and the deceased suspect responsible for the murders. The suspect is 43-year-old David Gerald McNabb of Orcutt. The decedents include his sister, 34-year-old Nicole McNabb of Orcutt, his mother 64-year-old Melanie McNabb of Orcutt and 63-year-old Carlos Echavarria of Orcutt.
David McNabb formerly worked at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office as a Custody Deputy from July of 2001 to March of 2012, when he voluntarily resigned. In September of 2012 he was arrested by the Oxnard Police Department and booked at the Ventura County Jail. In May of 2014, he was convicted of felony domestic violence and sentenced to jail.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the motive and circumstances leading up to this horrific act of violence and we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims who were so senselessly killed.
The 2014 booking photo was provided by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
Additional Details Released on Triple Homicide and Death of Suspect
The Sheriff’s Office continues to actively investigate a triple homicide that occurred last night, December 28, 2018, at a residence in the 5900 block of Oakhill Road in Orcutt.
The identities of the victims and the suspect are being withheld until all of the next of kin notifications are complete. Preliminary indications are that the victims all lived at the residence and were brutally stabbed and beaten to death by the suspect, who also lived at the residence. A motive for this deadly rampage is unknown at this time and is under investigation.
In addition to the investigation into the murders, the Sheriff’s Office is also conducting an officer involved shooting investigation. Deputies with the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team used less lethal munitions (40mm impact weapon and shotgun beanbag rounds) in an attempt to subdue the armed suspect. However, the suspect continued to pose an immediate threat, at which point the deputies shot him. Despite life-saving efforts by paramedics, the suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Sheriff’s Detectives and Forensics personnel have been working around the clock to process the crime scene and gather evidence. We will provide additional details once next of kin notifications have been finalized, as the investigation unfolds and as facts are confirmed.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
Triple Homicide Investigation in Orcutt
At approximately 8:05 p.m. last night, December 28, 2018, the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center received a call from a person who had entered her home in the 5900 block of Oakhill Rd. and found a bloody scene inside. She discovered a victim covered in blood in a bathtub, fled the residence and called for help. When responding deputies arrived at the Oakhill Estates residence they determined that a suspect was inside. Deputies entered the home, contacted the suspect and determined that he was armed with a rifle. An emergency notification was sent to residents in Oakhill Estates advising them to shelter in place. The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) and Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiation Team were called to the scene.
Further information was obtained from the suspect that there were additional people inside the house. In an effort to rescue any potential victims, Sheriff’s SET deputies made further entry into the house. They made contact with the armed suspect, a confrontation ensued during which the suspect was initially shot with less lethal munitions, followed by the use of deadly force. The suspect was transported to a hospital by ambulance and was subsequently pronounced dead.
When deputies searched the residence, they found a total of three deceased persons inside believed to be homicide victims. The names of these victims and the suspect are being withheld until all are positively identified and next of kin has been notified.
This tragic incident remains under active investigation. Accordingly, no additional information will be released until further notice.
Suspicious circumstances man with a rifle..North County possibly 5900 Block of Oak Hill Drive..
In Chicago the figures are like 20 shot 7 dead it’s like sports team stats every weekend this town is nothing compared to there go visit see for yourself.
Why is everyone going on and on about Santa Maria? This multiple murder took place in Orcutt. See Noozhawk article.
At some point in Chicago recent history, the murder rates on weekends were much much lower, and then multiplied exponentially. Seems there is a similarity, in that the numbers in Santa Maria/Orcutt could be the lowest they will be…and increase…too. Are we paying attention? Just closing our eyes, and hoping it will go away, or get better, is not a solution. It wasn’t in Chicago.
Where there is progress there is crime.
4 people dead. What’s going on in Santa Maria/Orcutt area; is becoming like Chicago with so many shootings. What needs to be done there that is not currently being done? Santa Maria needs to clean up its mess. Pronto.
It’s all broken down monthly for you at their website. 2017 – 1 ea Aug, Sept & Dec and 2018 1 in Feb & 1 in Jun. Homicides which may include stabbings. The historical average is 3 a year. 2015 and 2016 were an exception with 13 and 9 respectively.
It’s nothing like Chicago.
Does anyone keep track of the number of shootings in Santa Maria?
If it is true that this guy had a rifle, how did that happen given his 2014 felony conviction for domestic violence? Both State and Federal law prohibit possession of same by such a felon. So, what happened?
criminals could never get there hands on a fire arm because someone told them not to, right? I mean just saying, “no you cant have that” works so well for children
@ PSTARSR You aware of the massive flaw in the old “laws don’t prevent criminals from committing crimes” argument, aren’t you? I mean, you are an adult with a fully developed brain, right?