VENTURA : Family Files Suit in Woman’s Slaying

The family of 90-year-old murder victim Velasta Johnson has sued Ventura city and county police and health agencies, alleging that their negligence allowed hospitalized mental patient Kevin Kolodziej to roam free and stab her to death.

The suit was filed Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court by Johnson’s widower, Clyde Johnson, her daughters, Jacquelyn Thetford and Sharyn Flanigan, and her grandson, Kevin Hildreth. It also names Kolodziej as a defendant.

The suit alleges that Ventura Police Officers John Snowling and Alex Marquez were negligent on Jan. 17 when they found Kolodziej wandering in Johnson’s neighborhood but let him go.

Kolodziej, 25, had walked away from the nearby Ventura County Medical Center where he was being treated for self-inflicted stab wounds and schizophrenia, but the officers decided that he was not a danger to himself or others and thus could not be legally forced to return to the hospital.

Kolodziej then walked into Johnson’s house and stabbed her once with a knife he found lying atop a pie in the kitchen. He was convicted of murder last month and is due to be sentenced next week.

The suit also accuses the county of negligence for failing to confine Kolodziej at the hospital.

The suit further accuses Kolodziej of depriving Johnson’s family of her love, care, companionship and support.

The Johnson family’s suit demands unspecified damages for negligence and emotional distress, punitive damages and $10,228.08 in medical and funeral expenses.

The city of Ventura and Ventura County government rejected the allegations earlier this year when the Johnson family filed claims against the government over the elderly woman’s death.

County Counsel James L. McBride declined to comment Wednesday on the suit, but he said that it probably will be handled by attorneys that the county hires especially for such tort cases.

Ventura City Atty. Peter Bulens could not be reached for comment.