VARNER SENTENCED TO DEATH

April 13, 2010

 

Today, the Honorable William Gallagher affirmed and sentenced Scott Paul Varner to DEATH for the horrific 2005 murder of Jeannette Renee Mariedth.

 

On January 13, 2010, after four hours of deliberation, a Shasta County jury returned a verdict of death for Scott Varner. This verdict follows his conviction for the kidnapping, robbery, carjacking and premeditated murder of Jeannette Renee Mariedth, of Redding.

 

On November 27, 2005, Scott Varner and Joanna Peterson carjacked and forced Jeannette Mariedth to drive them to locations in Shasta County.  Jeannette Mariedth did not know Scott Varner or Joanna Peterson but, upon fear of death, she complied with their demands.  Scott Varner ordered that Jeannette Mariedth drive up to the Whiskeytown Lake area.  Once in a remote location near the cemetery, Varner placed a plastic bag over Jeannette Mariedth’s head and strangled her to death. 

 

Both Scott Varner and Joanna Peterson were arrested the day of the murder.  When Scott Varner was arrested, he was wearing the rings of his dead victim.  The Redding Police Department led a well organized and thorough investigation of this case.   They left no stone unturned.  Over two hundred items of evidence were collected. 

  

Jeannette Mariedth was a kind innocent woman with many friends.  Scott Varner will now be held responsible for the suffering he has inflicted.  We could not have reached this verdict without out the hard work of the men and woman of the Redding Police Department. 

 

The investigating officer assigned to this case was Investigator Todd Cogle of the Redding Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Shasta County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kelly Kafel.