By Gary Klien
The Marin Independent Journal
MARIN, Calif. — Edward Schaefer, the man who received a life sentence this month for killing 9-year-old Novato girl on his motorcycle, was found dead Monday at San Quentin State Prison, authorities said.
Details about Schaefer’s death were not immediately available. The Novato Police Department, the county sheriff’s department and the coroner’s office were notified Monday night, said Novato police Chief Joseph Kreins.
Representatives of San Quentin and the coroner’s office could not be reached for comment late Monday.
Schaefer, 44, was sentenced to 24 years to life in prison July 13 for murdering Melody Osheroff and maiming her father, Aaron. Schaefer, a recidivist drunken driver, roared into a crosswalk on his motorcycle in May 2009 and slammed into the victims at an estimated 65 mph.
Almost year later, a Marin jury convicted him on all counts: second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the Melody’s death, as well as driving with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit, mayhem and DUI causing great bodily injury.
Schaefer received the maximum term. Moments before he was sentenced, he offered his first public apology.
“I am sorry,” he said. “I am ashamed to have caused this terrible tragedy with this girl losing her life, the injuries to her father and the damage I have caused their family.”
Earlier this month, Schaefer was named as a defendant in a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit filed by Melody’s parents. The lawsuit also names Schaefer’s mother, Sheri Dunne; the business she owns, Marin Beauty Company, where Schaefer worked; and the city of Novato itself.
The lawsuit alleges negligent hiring and retention on the part of Dunne and her company.
“There is some indication that Schaefer worked for his mother’s business on the day of the accident,” said the Osheroffs’ lawyer, Timothy Hamilton. “We will be investigating whether he was legally in the course and scope of that employment at the time of the collision.”
The claim against Novato alleges that the city failed to reduce the speed limit to a safer speed at the site of the crash, San Marin Drive and San Carlos Way. The suit also alleges the city failed to enforce the speed limit; failed to provide “adequate and appropriate channelization” of traffic at the intersection; and failed to provide proper signage, warning lights and speed reduction times.
City Hall spokesman Dan Weakly, Novato’s personnel director and risk manager, said it would be premature to comment on the lawsuit because the city and its insurer have not been formally served. But he did say no changes are planned at the crossing.
“The intersection is safe as far as the city is concerned,” Weakly said. “It was the act of an individual that caused the accident. We don’t think there’s any traffic or safety reason that necessitates any changes to the intersection.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. No trial date has been set.
Copyright 2010 Marin Independent Journal, a MediaNews Group publication