Jessica Jane Hare, a 47-year-old resident of Phillipsville, California, tragically lost her life on April 25, 2015, due to a fatal gunshot wound. The incident occurred at a residence on Phillipsville Loop Road, where law enforcement officers responded to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Hare deceased at the scene. Witnesses indicated that Earl C. Orr, a 59-year-old Phillipsville resident, had been present with Hare just before the shooting and was seen with a firearm.
Orr abruptly left the scene following the incident, prompting a swift investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
The following morning, deputies executed a search warrant at Orr's residence, where they found and arrested him. Several firearms were seized from his home, and Orr was taken into custody on suspicion of homicide. The investigation revealed that Orr and Hare knew each other, but the incident was not classified as a case of domestic violence. An autopsy confirmed that Hare died from a single gunshot wound.
In the legal proceedings that followed, Earl Orr faced charges of murder. However, in August 2016, as part of a plea agreement with the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office, Orr pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and the use of a firearm to cause death. According to the prosecution, Orr was intoxicated and belligerent at the time of the shooting and claimed to have no memory of the event. His blood alcohol level was found to be nearly twice the legal limit for driving. The plea deal stipulated a 14-year prison sentence for Orr, which included the maximum term for manslaughter plus additional time for the use of a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Gary Cooper. The plea agreement was reached after considering various factors, including Orr's age and the circumstances surrounding the case. Hare's family agreed to the terms of the plea deal, which allowed for a determinant prison term for Orr. The sentencing took place in September 2016, bringing some closure to the tragic incident that claimed Jessica Jane Hare's life.
