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– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 73 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024
‘The person I see now is a monster.’ Emotions run high as baby killer sentenced Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
Sobs could be heard throughout the gallery in Department 2 of the El Dorado County Superior Courthouse in Placerville Friday, July 12, as the family of an infant killed 40 days after her birth watched her father plead guilty to her murder. Cameron Park resident Kevin Van Streefkerk, 38, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty Friday to the murder and torture of his baby daughter in June 2023. Though Van Streefkerk had originally pleaded not guilty to the charges when arraigned in 2023, he later admitted to a series of acts described by Judge Mark Ralphs as “conscienceless and pitiless.” “Accidents are a tragedy; this is far
worse,” Ralphs said as he sentenced Van Streefkerk. “The only thing I can say is this crime was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel.” Van Streefkerk was arrested June 20, 2023, by El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office deputies following a report of child abuse made by an unidentified employee at a local hospital June 17, according to EDSO Sgt. Alexander Sorey. The baby girl was admitted into the hospital with a large, visible injury to her head and ultimately taken off life support. Van Streefkerk told relatives he had changed the baby and she had then hit her head on the crib after being changed. Later, speaking with investigators, Van Streefkerk recanted his original story and said he “beat ■ See SENTENCING, page A8
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
Kevin Van Streefkerk, right, speaks with his attorney Dain Weiner during his sentencing hearing on July 12 at the El Dorado County Superior Courthouse in Placerville. Van Streefkerk pleaded guilty to the murder and torture of his infant daughter and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
FISH NETS ACC TROPHY Logging Days make Tennis player Mardy Fish holds the trophy after winning the 2024 American Century Championship golf tournament played at Edgewood, South Lake Tahoe, July 10-14. This is Fish’s 11th time playing in the ACC. His first win was in 2020.
Photo by Laney Griffo Tahoe Daily Tribune
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a comeback Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer
Logging Days returns in Pollock Pines July 19 & 20 after a 30-year hiatus. The festivities will take place at the Pollock Pines-Camino Community Center, 2675 Sanders Drive. The two-day celebration kicks off with a celebration Friday. Hell Bent will perform live music 4:308:30 p.m. and a barbecue will be served beginning at 5 p.m. On Saturday competitors will test their skills in logging games, including the axe throw, stock sawing, hot and doublebuck sawing, pole climbing and chocker setting. The event will also feature a craft show, face painting, a kids play area, a raffle and food and drinks. Call the Pollock Pines-Camino Community Center at (530) 647-8005 for more details.
County likely letting go of Cronan Ranch land Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer
El Dorado County officials are considering a transfer of Cronan Ranch property ownership to the U.S. Department of Interior – Bureau of Land Management. The county-owned property makes up 62.2 acres of open space off Pedro Hill Road and Highway 49 in Coloma. The land is in the middle of BLM property, which is part of the Cronan Ranch Regional Trail system. Though ideas on how to use the land
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have been proposed, county staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend selling the property to BLM “to continue the uses that exist out there.” A trail network does exist on the site. The Coloma/Lotus Advisory Committee previously proposed building a mountain bicycle skills park and an interpretive trail in addition to an equestrian arena and round pen. However, the county lacks funding to develop the property due to the Parks Division prioritizing other projects, according to county staff. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 25 to explore
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negotiations of selling the land. Figuring out how to best utilize the property been a “puzzling” task, according to District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin. BLM tried to build parking infrastructure on the border of the BLM and county-owned land, she shared, adding agreements and boundary line adjustments have been discussed, but to no avail. “It got too complicated and you could tell it was going to cost both parties a lot of money for very little, so we stopped pursuing that,” Parlin said.
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