Sebastopol woman arrested in death of her mother

A 24-year-old Sebastopol woman stabbed and killed her mother Monday morning in a bloody attack at their northern Sebastopol home, Sonoma County sheriff's officials said.

Nancy Franzen, 59, was found dead on a bedroom floor at the Tocchini Street home, Sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said. Julia Franzen was arrested.

Also in the home, detectives found a large kitchen knife believed used in the attack, he said.

He said blood throughout the home showed Nancy Franzen was attacked in one room and then was followed into other rooms before she collapsed in a bedroom.

A motive for the slaying was under investigation.

O'Leary said deputies had been sent to the home multiple times over the last few years for domestic violence matters where the daughter was the suspect.

Julia Franzen "has a history of mental illness," he said.

The slaying apparently occurred early Monday. Sheriff's officials said that at about 8 a.m. a neighbor called 911 to report being approached by the suspect, who was carrying a knife. She had blood on her hands and she told the neighbor she had killed someone, authorities said.

Deputies and Sebastopol police rushed to the yellow, ranch-style home, and once there called for Julia Franzen to come out with her hands up. Unarmed, she did and was taken into custody.

Deputies then found the body. They blocked off the intersection at nearby Dorthel Street with yellow police tape.

Neighbors said the mother and daughter moved to the home about 15 years ago.

The daughter had left for several months last year but recently returned, they said.

The neighbors said deputies had been called to the home several months ago when the daughter was screaming outside the home.

Julia Franzen graduated from Analy High School in 2006, according to her Facebook page.

She continued living at the home into her 20s. Neighbors said Julie Franzen had a daughter and she and the baby lived with Nancy Franzen for a few years.

Tocchini Street is in a quiet, older neighborhood of neatly kept homes, just west of Highway 116 on the northern edge of Sebastopol's city limits.

The neighbors said they were shocked at the violent death just a few doors away.

"It's so sad. It's such a shame," said a woman, who declined to be identified.

She said Nancy Franzen "has been a good neighbor, very pleasant."

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi. rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.