Victoria May Aless Seidlinger, a 61-year-old resident of Aptos, California, tragically lost her life on January 30, 2019. The incident occurred in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, where she was found shot to death at her home on Trout Gulch Road. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene after receiving a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Seidlinger deceased and two other individuals suffering from serious injuries.
The investigation revealed that two firearms had been discharged during the event, and all three individuals involved resided at the same address.
The primary suspect in this case was identified as Patrick Aaron Collins, a 36-year-old man who lived with Seidlinger. Collins was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder shortly after the incident. He was found with a gunshot wound and was hospitalized before being booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail. His bail was set at $750,000. The investigation indicated that Collins and another individual had fired weapons during the altercation, which also resulted in stab wounds to Seidlinger's estranged husband, who lived in a separate unit on the same property. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that Seidlinger did not harm anyone during the incident.
The case garnered significant attention as it was the first homicide of the year in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Neighbors and friends of Seidlinger expressed shock and sadness over the incident. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death was ongoing, with authorities piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. Collins faced charges of first-degree murder while using a firearm, and the case was set to proceed through the legal system. The Sheriff's Office continued to gather evidence and statements to build a comprehensive understanding of the tragic event.
