Rita Salogar, Honored for Nursing, Volunteer Work Laid to Rest at St. Mary
Suspects Collared at Home After Early Morning Tragedy in Quiet Neighborhood
June 5, 2007
By: Dave Rogers
Rita Salogar - 83 year-old stabbed to death during early-morning break-in.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Funeral services attended by hundreds were held Thursday at St. Mary Church for Rita M. Salogar, victim of murder last Monday. She was a registered nurse with 40 years service and an active church volunteer revered by the community. Since this article was posted 18-year-old Robert Commire and 16-year-old Shawn Commire, cousins and nearby residents, were arraigned before District Judge Scott Newcombe on murder charges after Prosecuting Attorney Kurt Asbury ruled they both should be tried as adults.
A highly-respected church volunteer, Rita C. Salogar, who recently celebrated her 83rd birthday, was murdered in her west side Bay City home by two young boys early this morning.
Mrs. Salogar reportedly had called 9-1-1 from an upstairs bedroom and went downstairs to investigate the noise, according to WJRT-TV Channel 12 that broke the story.
Police arrived within minutes and collared the pair before they left the scene, perhaps just minutes after the murder. Police reportedly arrived about 12:30 a.m. There were unconfirmed reports the victim had been stabbed to death and that the slayers had used a hammer.
The youthful suspects are in custody in the Bay County Juvenile Detention Facility on Hampton Road, Essexville, and the Bay County Jail.
The crime occurred at Mrs. Salogar's home, 402 N. Catherine St., in a quiet west side neighborhood just a block off North Henry Street.
She reportedly was friendly with young people in the neighborhood and employed some youngsters to cut her grass. It has not been determined if the suspects were known by the victim.
Unconfirmed reports were that the suspects were students in the Bangor Township school system. It is not known whether they will face court immediately or whether any charges will await an investigation.
Bay County Prosecuting Attorney Kurt Asbury likely will have the option of charging the suspects as adults, depending on their ages, according to law enforcement sources.
Police are said to be investigating whether a string of break-ins and attempted break-ins in the North Dewitt Street area recently are connected to the Salogar case.
Mrs. Salogar was a fixture at nearby St. Mary Catholic Church where she often volunteered. "She was a pillar of the church, even beyond that; she was here everyday and was so unassuming," said Sister Mary Epple, pastoral associate. "Just last week she had three pews reupholstered but didn't want anyone to know."
David Salogar, one of Mrs. Salogar's sons, reportedly was told by police that he could not enter the house for several days until all police work was completed. Another son, Daniel, is a city firefighter
Mrs. Salogar, who lived alone, was the widow of Frank W. Salogar, a longtime city firefighter.
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