Elmer Ghiggioli, a 60-year-old cheese company employee from Sonoma, California, tragically lost his life on December 26, 1960, in a violent shooting incident. The incident occurred at his residence on Penmark Street, where a wild shooting spree unfolded, resulting in his death and injuries to his family members. The shooter, William B. Chamberlain, a 33-year-old hypnotist with an office in San Francisco, admitted to the authorities that he was responsible for the shooting. Chamberlain used a .22 caliber pistol during the attack, which also left Ghiggioli's daughters, Sandra and Sharon, and his stepson, James Morgan, wounded. Sandra, who was only six years old at the time, sustained injuries to her face, arm, and abdomen, while Sharon, aged 14, was struck in the arm and stomach. James Morgan, 22, was wounded in the arm upon arriving at the scene after the shooting began.
The motive behind the shooting was revealed during court proceedings, which suggested that Chamberlain acted out of revenge. Following the tragic event, Chamberlain was arrested and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for his actions. The legal aftermath of the incident saw two significant lawsuits filed in relation to the fatal shooting. The first lawsuit, filed by County Coroner Andrew Johansen, who was appointed as the public administrator for the Ghiggioli estate, sought $250,000 in damages for the family and an additional $200,000 in exemplary and punitive damages. The second lawsuit was filed by Frances Ghiggioli, Elmer's wife, seeking recovery of damages and medical costs for the injuries sustained by her daughters. Her lawsuit totaled $503,608, bringing the combined total of the lawsuits to nearly $1 million.
The lawsuits highlighted the severe impact of the shooting on the Ghiggioli family, with Sandra suffering permanent mental disability as a result of her injuries. The legal representation for the coroner and the family was provided by Alexander J. McMahon of the Santa Rosa firm Kruger & McMahon. The tragic death of Elmer Ghiggioli and the subsequent legal battles underscored the devastating consequences of the violent act committed by Chamberlain, leaving a lasting impact on the Ghiggioli family and the Sonoma community.
