Kissel Arrest

Brooke Avery

Kissel Arrest

CEO and President of Kissel Realty Kenneth Kissel was arrested in Sacramento Wednesday morning on nine counts of criminal negligence.

Kissel, 61, was arrested at around 9 a.m. at his home at 100 American River Drive. The arrest is involving the deaths of nine tenants who were occupying the four-plex that Kissel Realty owns during the time of deaths, said Sacramento County District Attorney Marvin Coe in a press conference at the Sacramento Superior Court House.

Brother and sister Lloyd McKitridge, 31, and Lorita McKitridge, 29, Lloyd’s 12 and 14 year old sons and Lorita’s five younger children were among the people who were found dead in their home due to carbon monoxide poisoning on Sept 3. The poisoning is confirmed to have come from a faulty furnace. The property was located at 4310 Berkeley Court in Sacramento.

The building was inspected on Aug. 28 in response to complaints from the neighbors about the look of the building. Upon inspection, a faulty furnace was noted and recorded in an inspection report. The faulty furnace was repeatedly reported to Kissel, but no action took place to fix the problem.

“We need to stop allowing landlords to shirk their duty,” said Coe.

Coe said Kissel knew of the hazard, but decided to not act in the interest of his tenants. If found guilty, Kissel may face one to three years in prison per count of criminal negligence.

“You are responsible for the well-being of the people on your property,” said Coe. “Frankly, we need to hold landlords accountable.”

Kissel, the most prominent landlord in Sacramento County, has been the CEO and President of Kissel Realty since 1988, and has owned the property of interest for at least 10 years said Coe. This was the first time he has been cited for a code violation.

The only person who may have details about what happened directly before the deaths is Johnny Cole, 31. Cole was found unconscious on the steps of the house at the time of the accident. He was later taken to Mercy General Hospital where he was in critical condition. He left the hospital as soon as he was physically able, and has been missing for about one to two weeks authorities said.

As the only survivor of the accident, authorities are looking for him so that they may help him and ask routine questions about the details of the deaths. Cole, who is believed to be a transient, is believed to be the person living in the car found on the property.

Neither Kenneth Kissel nor Kissel’s lawyer Irving Karnecki were available for comment.

A funeral for the victims took place on Sunday at Bethel AME Church on 1452 2^nd Avenue in Sacramento. They were buried at Restvell Cemetery later that day.