Teen slaying stuns Willows

The Willows community is reeling from the loss of a Willows High School senior who was brutally slain with his girlfriend in Plumas County.

Steven Daniel Furtado, 18, was found dead with his girlfriend, Jennifer Carrigan, at her Chester home Sunday. On Tuesday, many local officials and students wore yellow ribbons to remember Furtado. He was scheduled to graduate in June and planned to attend a Sacramento trade school in the fall.

“Some students are taking advantage of the grief counselors that have been made available,” said Willows High School Principal Mort Geivett. “Some are huddling in small groups and comforting each other. Some came into the office and asked to go home.”

Steven Olmos, superintendent of Willows Unified School District, said a crisis team was brought in to begin the process of counseling and comforting the students and staff.

“Right now we are focused on providing for the needs of our students, who once again have to deal with the grief and loss of a loved one,” Olmos said. “Some are able to go on with the day as normal, but others are taking it very hard.”

Furtado had traveled to Chester Saturday to take Carrigan to her senior prom. Earlier that day, Furtado, a gifted trumpet player, marched with his high school band in the Lamb Derby parade in Willows.

Carrigan’s mother found the bodies of her daughter and Furtado shortly after noon Sunday, according to the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department. A sheriff’s department spokesman wouldn’t confirm the manner of death until autopsies scheduled for Tuesday were completed. The Plumas County News, citing unofficial sources, reported both teens were stabbed repeatedly.

On Sunday, Sgt. James Miranda, of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Department, delivered the tragic news to Furtado’s parents, Dan and Denise Furtado, who were in the process of a Mother’s Day celebration at their home in northeast Willows.

Less than five hours from Carrigan’s mother’s 911 call, Plumas County sheriff’s officials arrested Carrigan’s former boyfriend, Reyes Carrillo, on suspicion of murder.

According to Furtado’s uncle, Dan Furtado, the family knew there was possibly some conflict regarding the former boyfriend, but were shocked to learn the 18-year-old Chester teenager could be responsible for the tragic and senseless slaying of the two youths.

Carrillo was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday. An update will be posted online today.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones delivered the condolences of Plumas County authorities to the family and community during a press conference on Monday.

Willows police Chief Bill Spears said the tragedy has a tremendous impact in s small community, where everyone knows everyone, much as it would an extended family.

“This is a tragic event that has affected both high schools and both communities,” Spears said. “In a small community, we interact with each other on a daily, almost constant basis. Anytime there is a tragic death, it is felt by many, many people.”

Furtado was an active and popular student at Willows High School, lettering in football, golf, music and academics. Outside of school, Furtado had been dedicated to Boy Scouts of America since 1996, achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout in 2007, and continued to be a mentor for younger scouts.

The Willows City Council and the Glenn County Board of Supervisors recently recognized Furtado for his achievements.

“Steven was a wonderful, beautiful person,” said his cousin, Brandy McDonald, a deputy with the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office. “He loved everybody and he was loved by everybody. He was an all-American boy.”

Furtado met Carrigan at a band function in Sacramento and had been seeing her for about two months.

Willows High Vice Principal Jerry Smith called the tragedy unfathomable.

“We’re all devastated by this,” Smith said. “The senior class has been through so much already.”

Last month 18-year-old Kayla Arnold, another well-known WHS student, died in a San Francisco hospital after a short illness. The official cause of death is still unknown. Brian Parks died in late 2006 after collapsing during football practice.

All three students were supposed to graduate from Willows High School next month and students and staff are working on how they will acknowledge the deceased during the commencement ceremony.

The tragedy for the Chester community was compounded by the death of Carrigan’s brother, Billy, who suffered massive injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Sunday as he raced home from Berkeley to be with his family following his sister’s death. According to the California Highway Patrol, the 20-year-old lost control of his vehicle on a 30 mph curve about 35 miles from home and slammed into a grove of pine trees.

Trudy Duisenberg, a spokesperson for Enloe Medical Center in Chico, confirmed Tuesday that Billy Carrigan died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Like Furtado, Jenny Carrigan was an outstanding student and member of the community. She too was to graduate this June in Chester and planned to attend California State University, Chico in the fall.

Furtado worked at Sani Food Market and planned to be a diesel and auto mechanic.

“He had his life together and she had her plans,” said Sheriff Jones. “They had a purpose. Their lives were snatched quickly and there are no answers.”

“Our family is devastated,” McDonald, the sheriff’s deputy, said. “Steven was a wonderful person and we will miss him so much.”

Services are pending as the family awaits the release of his body from Plumas County.