Cherie Dodge, 57, had deep ties to Roseville and was experiencing homelessness when she was killed near downtown.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The family of Cherie Dodge is mourning the 57-year-old Roseville woman after police arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of murder in her fatal stabbing near downtown, a killing investigators say does not appear to have involved people who knew each other.
Dodge was found dead near Atlantic Street and South Grant Street after officers responded to reports of a stabbing about 1 a.m. Oct. 14. Police announced Friday that a teenage boy had been arrested after investigators identified a person of interest and obtained a warrant to search a Roseville home. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.
Dodge’s son has described his mother as a longtime Roseville resident who had experienced homelessness after struggling with mental health problems. Family members said she was a mother of five and grandmother of 10. Their account adds a personal dimension to a case that was initially disclosed by authorities with little information beyond the location and circumstances of her death.
Police said Dodge and the teenager did not appear to know one another. That finding has left investigators and Dodge’s family without a publicly known explanation for why their paths crossed early Wednesday. Authorities have not said whether Dodge was specifically targeted or described what happened immediately before the stabbing.
The killing occurred near railroad tracks and businesses close to downtown Roseville. Detectives and crime scene investigators spent Wednesday examining the area, while police said they were following promising leads. Surveillance cameras were visible around the intersection, though authorities have not said whether recordings from those cameras played a role in identifying the suspect.
By Friday, investigators had obtained a warrant for a residence in the 100 block of Buckley Court. The Roseville-Rocklin regional SWAT team helped serve the warrant, and the 15-year-old was later booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder. Police have withheld his name because of his age.
Roseville police said there are no other suspects being sought. The department has not publicly detailed the evidence against the teenager, identified a weapon or released information about statements he may have made. An arrest on suspicion of murder is not a finding of guilt, and the allegation will be handled through the legal process.
Dodge’s death was first investigated with few publicly released details. Officers found her after being sent to Atlantic and South Grant streets, and the case was quickly classified as a homicide. Her identity was released later as detectives continued working to determine what happened and who was responsible.
The arrest has answered one immediate question by identifying the person police suspect in the killing, but significant parts of the case remain unexplained. Authorities have not announced a motive or described any prior interaction between Dodge and the teenager. Police said the investigation remains active and that detectives will remain in contact with Dodge’s family as the case continues.
Author note: Last updated October 17, 2026.