California couple faces murder, child abuse charges after 7-year-old girl dies, 5-year-old hurt
By Lee Anne Denyer, Daniel Macht, Andres Valle
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ROSEVILLE, California (KCRA) — A couple living at a Roseville home was arrested on suspicion of murder and child abuse after a 7-year-old girl died Monday and another 5-year-old girl was injured, police said.
The man who was arrested was a former police officer and the victims were the daughters of the woman who was arrested.
Police said officers around 7:37 a.m. went to Oahu Court north of Blue Oaks Boulevard for a medical aid call after an adult resident in the home reported an unresponsive 7-year-old. There, they found the girl with apparent injuries who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical personnel later declared her dead.
Officers found the other 5-year-old girl in a bedroom who also had injuries, police said. She was also taken to the hospital.
Two other children were sleeping inside the house and were not injured.
Jessica Savangsy, 26, and Retuquel Dupree, 27, were booked into the South Placer County Jail for charges including murder, conspiracy, and felony child abuse, records showed.
Savangsy and Dupree were in a dating relationship and lived at the home, Roseville police said.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Savangsy and Dupree were previously booked for conspiracy and grand theft charges on Oct. 6 and bailed out. Dupree’s charges also included carrying a loaded firearm in a public place.
KCRA 3 is trying to learn more about that case from Roseville police.
KCRA 3’s Andres Valle spoke to Dupree’s family, who arrived at the scene around 5 p.m. They were visibly upset and emotional as they learned the news.
“I’m sick right now. I don’t even know what happened. This is all messed up,” said Raza Klemp, the sister of Dupree.
Klemp and other family members became emotional once they learned the news of the arrest later in the night. Another sister insisted her brother was innocent, telling KCRA 3, “I’m gonna say this now where everybody can see. My brother is nowhere ever capable of something like this. He has no life without those girls. He would have touched both ends of the world about those girls.”
Klemp believes the other two girls inside the home are her nieces. She says that she is focused on finding them and told KCRA 3’s Andres Valle that they have yet to locate them as of 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Roseville police say the children are in the care of Child Protective Services.
The Citrus Heights Police Department said Dupree was formerly employed with the department from June 8 to Aug. 5 in 2021. They would not share more about the former police officer or the reason for his departure, but confirmed he did not quit.
Before announcing the arrests, Roseville police set up a mobile command center at the gray house, which had its garage door open and police tape around it. Oahu Court was taped off from the public.
“We’re just really sad. I wish we had seen something. Maybe the outcome could have been different. You always think that, right? When tragic things like this happen,” said Sarah Adkins, a neighbor who spoke to KCRA.
Some other neighbors who did not want to go on camera told Denyer they had concerns about the home and had heard screaming numerous times.
“Our hearts go out to those who have been impacted by this tragic loss,” Roseville police said.
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