Man killed in stabbing at Palms Inn near Santa Rosa was Rohnert Park native

The man stabbed to death Tuesday at a former motel outside Santa Rosa has been identified as William Woodard, a 36-year-old Rohnert Park native.

Woodard, who sheriff’s officials named late Wednesday afternoon as the victim, was described by friends and neighbors as a caring and social resident of the Palms Inn, a permanent supportive housing facility where the stabbing occurred.

He had been living at the permanent supportive housing site since late 2021 after years of homelessness.

Woodard was found lying on the floor of a second-story room early Tuesday morning in a pool of blood, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. Authorities had been alerted to the reported stabbing about 2:40 a.m.

Paramedics took Woodard to a local hospital where he died. Press Democrat photographs of the scene and interviews with Palms Inn residents indicate Woodard was found inside his own apartment.

First responders had to break a window to reach him, according to Palms Inn owner Akash Kalia.

No arrests have been made in the stabbing, said Sgt. Juan Valencia, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

"Detectives have searched the area for any physical evidence, surveillance video, and witnesses who may be able to provide additional information on the events leading up to the stabbing death of the victim,“ Valencia said in a Wednesday news release.

Palms Inn resident Steve Singleton said he knew Woodard as a highly social and caring individual. Woodard lived two doors down from him, Singleton said. He often had late night visitors, including on the night he was killed, Singleton said.

“He didn’t like being alone,” Singleton said, “so he had a lot of people going in and out of there all hours of the night.”

Singleton said he and other residents sought to advise Woodard against opening his room to others so often. “We tried to tell him, Will, this is your safety zone,” Singleton said, but “being alone to him was not good.”

Singleton said someone knocked on his door early Tuesday morning, just before authorities say the stabbing occurred, looking for Woodard’s room.

“People are crying all around here,” he said. “People are scared.”

Kalia, the owner, said tenants were not voicing safety concerns to him. “They are just wanting the residents that continue to allow multiple guests onsite all night long to stop allowing that and create a safer environment,” he wrote in a statement Tuesday night.

The Palms Inn at 3345 Santa Rosa Ave. is a 104-unit supportive housing site owned and managed by Kalia. Placement and social services are handled by Catholic Charities and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The motel was converted to house formerly homeless people under a deal with the county starting in 2016.

Woodard featured prominently in a May Press Democrat investigation into the property and its management. He was one of the residents who raised concern about unhealthy mold and moisture, cockroaches and general neglect from the public agencies, nonprofits and private ownership involved in the property.

Woodard said he had moved into the Palms Inn September 2021 after securing a placement through Catholic Charities. He enjoyed living at the facility despite its issues, he said, after years on the street. He told reporters he was taking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Woodard questioned the level of services he was receiving, while being grateful to have a roof over his head and a door that locked.

Catholic Charities CEO Jennielynn Holmes told The Press Democrat on Tuesday night she was unable to discuss the specifics of Woodard’s care. The nonprofit can only provide mental health and substance abuse treatment and other programming to Palms Inn residents who accept it, she said.

Jennifer Eversole, 35, said she and Woodard had been homeless together when they were in their teens. She recalled camping on the beach at Bolinas with Woodard. Too young to enter a bar, they would sing along to karaoke songs through the open window of the village’s cantina, she recalled.

Woodard, a large man, would accompany his female friends to confrontations with men when needed, she said.

Eversole, now housed and a mother, said when she saw Woodard around Santa Rosa he would cheerfully shout her name and ask about her children and life.

“Him getting into the Palms was a new lease on life,” she said. “He finally saw hope, he had a place to rest his head.”

This story has been corrected to indicate Woodard moved into The Palms Inn in September 2021.

Staff Writer Madison Smalstig contributed to this story.

You can reach Staff Writer Andrew Graham at 707-526-8667 or andrew.graham@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @AndrewGraham88