Marin County sheriff’s deputies discovered three individuals dead inside a home in Strawberry Circle on Sunday night, in what authorities are investigating as a suspected murder-suicide involving retired high-ranking San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) personnel. The deceased were identified as retired SFPD Sergeant Kevin Mannix, 68, his wife, retired SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix, 65, and their 24-year-old daughter, Katie Mannix.
"The tragic loss of retired Deputy Chief Ann Mannix, her daughter Katie, and retired Sergeant Kevin Mannix in a suspected murder-suicide has left our entire SFPD family reeling." San Francisco Police Officer’s Association, Statement
According to initial reports, Kevin Mannix is believed to have shot his wife and daughter before taking his own life. The SFPD Officers’ Association described the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide, sending shockwaves through the San Francisco law enforcement community. The incident occurred in Strawberry Circle, an unincorporated community in Strawberry, east of Mill Valley, an affluent area across the bay from San Francisco.
Deputies responded to the residence shortly after 5 p.m. Officers arrived within minutes and attempted to contact the person who had made the initial call, who had reportedly already left the home. Investigators then secured the perimeter as detectives from the sheriff’s office investigations unit began working the scene late Sunday night. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to assure the public, confirming that "There is no known threat to the community."
Ann Mannix was a highly respected and pioneering figure within the San Francisco Police Department. She dedicated decades of her life to public service, steadily climbing the ranks. Department records show her significant achievements, including becoming Deputy Chief of the Field Operations Bureau in 2018 and later leading the Special Operations Bureau in 2019. Notably, Ann Mannix was the first woman to serve on the department’s SWAT team and subsequently became the first woman to lead that specialized unit, earning her a reputation as a trailblazer.
Kevin Mannix had also served the SFPD for many years, retiring in June 2018 after 27 years on the force. In July 2018, Taraval Station published a farewell letter from him, in which he expressed his sentiments to his colleagues. "I leave the SFPD, but I am taking your friendships with me forever," he wrote, also mentioning his desire to "spend more time with loved ones."
The news of the deaths was met with profound sadness and grief across the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco police officers confirmed the deaths, with Chief Derrick Lew sending a department-wide message to agency members. Chief Lew shared the news "with heavy hearts" and urged colleagues, "Please keep their family in your prayers. BSU [Behavioral Support Unit] is available to all members who may need it during this difficult time."
The San Francisco Police Officer’s Association released a statement on Sunday evening, articulating the collective sorrow felt by the department. "It is with profound sadness, shock, and heavy hearts that we address the devastating news that emerged out of Marin County on Sunday evening," the statement read. It continued, "The tragic loss of retired Deputy Chief Ann Mannix, her daughter Katie, and retired Sergeant Kevin Mannix in a suspected murder-suicide has left our entire SFPD family reeling." The association acknowledged the difficulty of processing such a tragedy, stating, "There are no words that can fully capture the depth of this tragedy, nor are there simple answers to the painful questions we are all asking." They lauded Ann Mannix's legacy, highlighting that she "was a trailblazer in our department—becoming the first woman to join and lead the SWAT team, and rising to lead both the Field Operations and Special Operations Bureaus." The statement also paid tribute to Kevin Mannix's long service, noting that "Many worked alongside Kevin during his 27 years of dedicated service at Taraval Station and beyond." It concluded by emphasizing the heavy burden on active and retired officers: "To see their lives, and the life of their 24-year-old daughter Katie, end in such a horrific and senseless manner is a burden that weighs heavily on every officer, active and retired."
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also expressed his condolences, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of retired SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix and her daughter, Katie." Mayor Lurie further commended Ann Mannix's career, reiterating that "Deputy Chief Mannix dedicated decades of her life to serving San Francisco. She was a trailblazer in the police department, becoming the first woman to join and lead the SWAT team and rising to lead both the Field Operations and Special Operations Bureaus."
A woman identifying herself as Ann Mannix’s best friend of 60 years shared her personal grief with The Post, saying, "This is so sad for me. She was my best friend of 60 years. Love her, she didn’t deserve this." The Marin County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths.
