California National Parks has been rocked by the murder of a glamorous Sonoma park ranger who was found dead in a murder-suicide inside a mountain home the day before Thanksgiving.
Katranne ‘Kat’ Pringle was found dead alongside a former colleague identified as Keith Gray, 43, inside her home located at 2000 block of Weeks Ranch Road east of Santa Rosa on Wednesday afternoon.
They were found in the bathroom with a handgun nearby. They each had a gunshot wound.
Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check around 12:30 pm when Pringle did not show up for work, which was out of character for her.
When they arrived at the home, the lights were and the front door was unlocked.
Deputies made entry around 1:30 pm – after getting no response when they knocked on the door – and made the gruesome discovery.
On Tuesday, authorities announced that Pringle was killed by Gray, a former ranger. He killed himself after fatally shooting her inside the home, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff spokesman Rob Dillon.
Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime units and investigators from the Crime Scene Unit were called to the scene, KRON4 News reported.
No motive has been given. An investigation is ongoing.
Sonoma Park Ranger Katranne ‘Kat’ Pringle was found dead in a home in Santa Rosa on Thursday in a murder-suicide
Keith Gray features a yoga pose on a mountain on his LinkedIn profile
It is unclear if Pringle and Gray had been in a relationship at any point before the shooting.
Gray, who was from the San Francisco area, wrote on his LinkedIn page that he was on a ‘sabbatical.’ He is pictured in a yoga pose on a mountain.
According to his profile, he was a park ranger with Sonoma County Regional Parks from 2018 to January 2023.
In addition to being a park ranger, Pringle was also an EMT and certified defensive tactics instructor.
In 2017, she joined the parks service as an aide, and was promoted to ranger a year later.
Her colleagues at the Somona County Regional Parks were left shocked and saddened by her death.
‘Kat was a dedicated and knowledgeable rangerwho brought passion and warmth to everything she did,’ they wrote in a statement on Facebook.
‘We will remember her for her absolute professionalism and commitment to serving her parks, her community and her co-workers.’
‘Fearless yet compassionate and fun yet focused, Kat was well-liked by all and a role model for many, especially younger team members who emulated her dependability and attention to detail.
‘At 38, her life and career were cut far too short, but she leaves a legacy of service and care that will not be forgotten at Sonoma County Regional Parks.’
Pringle’s social media is filled with photos of the vivacious ranger with family and friends at a pumpkin patch, smiling in a cornfield, dressed up for a night out and more.
The stunning blue-eyed brunette also shared photos of herself in uniform and serene photos of the woods she patrolled.
Pringle’s heartbroken family wrote in a GoFundMe that ‘her unexpected passing has left her family and community devastated.’
Pringle was also an EMT and certified defensive tactics instructor
In 2017, Pringle (pictured here on a trip to LA) joined the parks service as an aide, and was promoted to ranger a year later.
Pringle pictured at a pumpkin patch with her brother Thor and her son, Seth
Pringle looking glamorous in a black lace shirt
Pringle pictured in uniform with her son Seth
Pictured: Pringle visiting the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
Ilana Stoelting set up the fundraiser on behalf of her family to help cover costs of a memorial and burial for the young woman.
Fund A Hero campaign has also been set up through PORAC – Peace Officers Research Association of California- a non-profit 501(c)3, for those who wish to donate there, as well.