Death of Napa Teen Sasha Mufich Inspires Researchers

The brightly colored stripes are just a reminder of her oldest daughter, Sasha Mufich. The 17-year-old Napa teen was killed April 13 on Riverside Drive by gun violence. Aileen Villasenor, a 19-year-old Rohnert Park resident, also died in the shooting.

Mufich’s family has now found another way to honor their daughter and sister. In partnership with the Napa Valley Education Foundation, they have created the Sasha Ann Mufich Memorial Scholarship.

Donnelly described her daughter as “a social butterfly,” the kind of person who wanted to connect with other people and considered her friends – and their families – part of her own family.

“Sasha loved everyone…and had a lot of friends,” Donnelly said.

Her daughter has always wanted to help others, her mother said. “That’s why I wanted to start this scholarship, so she can continue to help her friends,” she said.

Mufich, a Valley Oak High School graduate, planned to start cosmetology school in San Francisco and was “eager to begin the next phase of her education,” according to the scholarship announcement.

The scholarship is intended to “carry on Sasha’s spirit by helping students achieve their educational goals.” The fund not only provides financial assistance for higher education, but “also serves as a reminder of the profound impact one person can have on this world.”

Its goal is “to inspire and empower students to pursue their dreams and contribute to a safer, more compassionate society.”

Mufich was also an accomplished athlete who participated in gymnastics, soccer, wrestling and softball. And while she was good at sports, “I think she enjoyed the social aspect (of sports) more than the competition itself,” her mother said.

Donnelly said that as the investigation into the killings of Mufich and Villasenor continues, she still doesn’t know exactly what happened that night.

She and her daughter were together earlier in the day, Donnelly said. However, she added, “she never said a word to me” about circumstances that could have led to a violent confrontation.

“I believe she was at Riverside Drive protecting her friends,” Donnelly said, but she’s not focusing on the details of the death right now. “Nothing’s going to bring her back. All I hope is that all three of them are behind bars for the rest of their lives.”

The three people are a man and two women who were arrested days after the Riverside Drive attack.

John Richard Wesley Nicholson Jr., a 22-year-old from Vallejo, faces two counts of first-degree murder as well as various special charges, such as intentional discharge of a firearm. Jessica Whitten, 19, of Santa Rosa also faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of aiding and abetting.

Judith Adolph, 19, of Rohnert Park, is charged with two counts of felonious assault with a semi-automatic firearm and accessory to a felony.

All three men remain in the Napa County Jail without bail. Their next hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Napa County Superior Court.

Donnelly said the Napa community has been supportive of her family, with about 600 people attending the funeral and other gatherings in memory of Mufich. A number of local women who also lost children have been particularly heartwarming, she noted.

The mother of three said she knew teenagers could be stubborn and Sasha didn’t let anyone get in her way. “When she wanted to do something, she did it,” Donnelly recalled.

According to Donnelly, it is important for parents to strive to establish a close bond with their teenage and young adult children. At the same time, young adults should listen to their instincts, their intuition.

“If something feels wrong, it probably does,” she said.

For Donnelly, the pink bracelets are both a memento of her daughter and a tangible gift she can pass on to others. “I wear two, in case I run into someone who might want one,” she says.

A GoFundMe campaign has already helped cover funeral and burial costs, and some of that money is also going toward the new scholarship.

“(Mufich) is always in my thoughts,” her mother said, and doing something for her “is the only way for me to move forward.”