She murdered her stepgrandfather, 84. Fresno County judge hands down sentence
A 40-year-old Clovis woman was sentenced to 26 years in prison Wednesday for brutally murdering her 84-year-old stepgrandfather.
Katreeva Woolf, wearing a dull green inmate jumpsuit, nodded a few times as Judge Jon Skiles asked her if she understood her sentence and right to appeal his decision. She pleaded guilty to murder on Dec. 9 and Skiles on Wednesday gave her a sentence of 25-years-to-life, plus one year.
She showed little to no emotion when the sons of her victim, Chester “Chet” Scharnick spoke about their beloved father and how his death has deeply hurt his family and friends.
Homicide investigators said Scharnick, a longtime president of the painter’s union, was killed in his Fresno home near Turner and Bremer avenues on Jan. 18. Woolf, 40, had been living with her stepgrandfather for a few weeks prior to the killing. She was arrested two days after the crime and charged with murder.
Jeff Scharnick said his father had been warned by sheriff’s deputies and family members to not have any contact with Woolf because of her drug use. He said she also allegedly asked him for $600 so she could move.
But saying no to family, or anyone asking for help, was not how his father lived, Jeff Scharnick said.
“He would tell me, ‘What can I do? She is my granddaughter,’” Jeff Scharnick said.
Randy Scharnick spoke about how much his father was loved and admired. More than 400 people came to his funeral and honored him for being active in the community as an artist, a star high school athlete and, above all else, a giving person.
Looking directly at Woolf, Randy Scharnick said: “I only know of one person who was willing to help you: your go-to person. And you brutally murdered him. And for what? One more high.”
Jeff Scharnick described how he is haunted by the memories of finding his father unconscious on the floor. He gets flashbacks from that day and wants Woolf to be burdened with those same memories.
“When I raised the bloody pillow off his head, I could see what you had done,” he said. “Drugs are no excuse for what you did to your grandfather and I hope you still see my father as you sit in that cell for the rest of your life. I hope you see the vision of what you have done, like I do.”
The Scharnick brothers said they hope their father will be remembered not just as a murder victim but for his long career as a commercial painter, his love of art and his stellar athletic career at Sanger High School, where he played basketball, football and baseball. In 1953, he was voted Athlete of the Year in Sanger.
With a batting average of more than .400, Scharnick was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school and played third base in the minor leagues. An eye injury forced him to end his baseball career, but he went out to have a long career as a painter, working for a private company for nearly 30 years and Fresno Unified School District for 17 years.
Scharnick served as the Painter’s Union President for 45 years. He also loved to create art and would sketch cartoon characters for vehicles participating in the Fresno and Clovis Christmas parades.
This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 4:33 PM.
