Police say the 15-year-old suspect and 57-year-old Cherie Dodge apparently did not know each other before the killing.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of 57-year-old Cherie Dodge near downtown Roseville, police said Friday.
The arrest came two days after officers responding to a report of a stabbing found Dodge dead near Atlantic Street and South Grant Street about 1 a.m. Oct. 14. Roseville police said investigators developed a person of interest, obtained a search warrant and later took the teenager into custody. Authorities have not identified him because he is a minor.
The Roseville-Rocklin regional SWAT team assisted investigators Friday as they served the search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Buckley Court, according to police. The teenager was later booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder. Police have not released details about what evidence led detectives from the homicide scene to the residence.
Authorities said they are not seeking any other suspects. Police also said Dodge and the teenager did not appear to know each other, leaving a major question about what led to the deadly encounter. Investigators had not publicly announced a motive as of Saturday.
The investigation began early Wednesday after officers were called to the area of Atlantic and South Grant streets. The location is near railroad tracks and businesses not far from downtown Roseville. Dodge was found at the scene and was pronounced dead. Detectives and crime scene investigators remained in the area as they began gathering evidence.
Before the arrest, investigators said they were pursuing promising leads and examining whether surveillance cameras around the intersection recorded useful information. Police have not publicly described what investigators obtained from video, witnesses or other evidence, and authorities have not said what specifically caused them to identify the teenager as a person of interest.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office identified Dodge after the killing. Roseville police initially released few details beyond saying that the death was being investigated as a homicide. The arrest Friday marked the most significant publicly announced development in the case.
Police have not released a detailed account of the moments leading to the stabbing. They also have not said whether the teenager made any statements to investigators or whether any weapon or other evidence was recovered during the search. Because the suspect is 15, information about proceedings in the juvenile justice system may be more limited than in an adult criminal case.
The murder allegation remains an accusation, and the teenager has not been found guilty. Police said the investigation remains active despite the arrest and that detectives will continue working the case and communicating with Dodge’s family.
Author note: Last updated October 17, 2026.