In the early morning hours of August 16, 2015, following an evening out with husband Aaron, to whom she had been married since the age of 16, to celebrate her upcoming birthday, Sara Matthews Easton, 31 years of age, died by two gunshot wounds to the left side of her head received in her bedroom in Yuba City, CA.   Sara was right-handed and the gun was husband Aaron's service revolver.  She was transported to Rideout Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 5:14 am.  Manner of death has not been determined.  Present in the home at the time of death were Sara's husband, Aaron Easton who was the Police Chief of sister city Marysville, CA and Sara and Aaron's three young children. 

Aaron Easton required Yuba City Police Department obtain a search warrant to enter the home.  YCPD contacted Sutter County DA Amanda Hopper, who recused herself, as did Yuba County due to the fact Amanda Hopper's father was in the employ of the Yuba County DA.  Colusa County DA John Poyner granted the search warrant for YCPD and has stated he would have arrested Aaron Easton for homicide.  The recusal by Hopper at the very least has to do with the relationship to the victim (see photo).   It is well known that there were extramarital affairs between Amanda Hopper and Aaron Easton as well as Brian Hopper and Sara Easton.   Amanda Hopper is the current District Attorney of  Sutter County and has since divorced from Brian Hopper.  The Local newspaper, Appeal Democrat initially reported Sara's death as she died tragically in her home in a very brief statement.  The next press received was when Aaron Easton arranged a benefit showcasing some of Sara's photography for the benefit of Suicide Prevention.  That's it, nothing more.  Most of the residents of Yuba City are unaware of this entire episode.

The California Department of Justice eventually became the lead in the case.  Aaron Easton resigned as Police Chief in Marysville amid sexual harassment allegations made by a Police Cadet.  He has since relocated to Oklahoma and remarried to a woman who was employed by the Appeal Democrat and to whom he was acquainted at the time of Sara's death.  That woman, Channel Easton, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 22, 2022 on 22 counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft for the purpose of embezzling from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Yuba City, CA where she served as Church Administrator for five years and at which time she was acquainted with Aaron Easton.  If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. On April 16, 2016, The Appeal Democrat reported Channel Easton, (formerly known as Channel Cheney), Aaron Easton and three others were appointed to the Yuba Sutter United Way Board of Directors.  WE NEED to demand Due Diligence, Accountability and Justice.

It is the California Department of Justice who must resolve the manner of death issue.