The family of an 87-year-old grandmother who died after thieves knocked her over—spoke out on Sunday.
In a statement obtained by KCRA, the family said that they will always cherish the memory of Marilyn Stribley but they said- they are still reeling from the news.
“We continue to be in shock over the sudden loss. The emotions of sadness and shock have been with us all week. Honestly, some anger is setting in. But because of the fundamentals Marilyn taught her daughters and the family values that continued in the extended family, Marilyn leaves behind a small, close-knit family that is supporting one another,” the statement said.
On Monday, Nov. 27, police responded to a 911 call about a robbery at a Rite Aid pharmacy on the 6600 block of Auburn Boulevard.
Three male suspects jumped the pharmacy counter and demanded prescription drugs. The staff, fearing for their lives handed over an undisclosed amount, according to a press release from the Citrus Heights Police Department.
Then as the robbers—between 18 and 20 years old—were fleeing the scene, one of the men ran into the 87-year-old grandmother just as she was entering the store. The impact knocked the grandmother unconscious as she fell backward onto the ground.
The grandmother sustained critical injuries due to the impact and died later on Saturday, Dec. 2, according to the Sacramento Bee.
As of writing on Tuesday, police were still searching for the three suspects and is asking for the publics help in identifying and locating the three men. Surveillance footage of the incident can be seen below.
Family members of Stribley said she was a mother of two daughters, a grandmother and the widow of a veteran in the Army Air Corps in World War II.
Her neighbors in Citrus Heights told KCRA that they enjoyed her company and already felt the absence.
Stribley’s family said her Citrus Heights neighbors always commented on how much they enjoyed her company.
“The Christmas tree she puts up every year, that’s her tradition,” Shelly Horn, a neighbor who lives across the street told KCRA. “It’s nice now to look out and think of her, and she’s just a very sweet lady. We enjoyed her, and we’re going to miss her a lot.”
"Her family adored her, loved her and will fondly remember the lady in this picture as 'mom' who always had a smile for everyone."
Remembering the 87-year-old woman who died after being knocked out by 3 pharmacy robbers: https://t.co/41cQmP7bva pic.twitter.com/3UO1Nmwmud
— Derek Schnell (@DerekKCRA) December 4, 2017
Her family said Stribley was known on a first-name basis at the neighborhood Rite Aid store.
“Staff there has led us to believe she was one of their favorite customers,” the family said in the statement. “Last month, she proudly renewed her driver’s license to continue doing her own shopping and getting out in the community.”
According to the Sacremento Bee, Stribley was raised in Long Beach before she moved to the Sacremento area in 1993 with her husband, William Stribley. Later, the rest of her family moved over to the area as well. She continued to live independently after her husband died in 2014.
“Her family adored her, loved her, and will fondly remember the lady in this picture as ‘mom’ who always had a smile for everyone,” the statement read. “We would like to put a human face to the lady knocked down during the robbery. The details of what happened, everyone has seen. Progress toward apprehending the suspects will be left to law enforcement.”
The Rite Aid Corporation is offering up to a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Stribley’s family said she will be buried with her husband of 63 years at the VA cemetery in Dixon, KCRA reported.
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