Sonia Herok Stone

Rio Avenue Home in Carmel-by-the-Sea, via google maps

Sonia Carmen Herok Stone

In 1981, Sonia Carmen Herok Stone was found murdered in her home in Carmel-by-the-Sea. An autopsy discovered the 30 year old had been strangled.

Sonia was 30 years old at the time of her murder. She had a 4 year old daughter and worked for the Levi Straus & Co.

In December of 1981, a neighbor named Michael Glazebrook was arrested and investigators alleged he committed the murder.

The arrest of Michael Glazebrook wouldn't last long as he was released for a lack of evidence. In 1982, he was arrested once again and a preliminary hearing was held. There were many issues in that hearing and though a judge found there was enough probable cause to arrest Glazebrook and move to trial, charges would once again be dropped. Just a short time later Glazebrook was rearrested and this time a trial was held. With lots of issues in the cases ranging from possible perjury and an investigation that a judge referred to as "illegal" this trial was not an easy one for the prosecution. In 1983, a jury of 8 men and 4 women deadlocked 9-3 in favor of acquittal. Afterwards, the Monterey County District Attorney did not refile charges.

In August of 2021, it was annouced that the Monterey County Sheriff's Office had once again arrested Michael Glazebrook for the murder of Sonia Herok Stone. In 2020, her case was looked at again by investigators and several pieces of evidence were found to have DNA. Investigators allege that the DNA from the crime scene is a match to Glazebrook.

photo via Monterey County Sheriff's Office Press Conference in Aug 2021

Glazebrook has been charged with 1st degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty and his being held on $1,000,000 bail.

More Information:

Check out Defrosting Cold Cases by Alice de Sturler, @yourcrimewriter on twitter

Works Cited

Woman Slain in her Home Near Carmel. (1981, Oc 16). The Californian, pg. 6. (newspapers.com)


Murder victim was strangled, coroner says. (1981, Oct 21). The Californian, pg. 5. (newspapers.com)


Carmel Point man booked in slaying. (1981, Dec 19). The Californian, pg. 10. (newspapers.com)


No charges filed in murder probe. (1981, Dec 22). The Californian, pg. 5. (newspapers.com)


Law enforcement log: Man charged in death of Carmel woman. (1982, Jul 24). The Californian, pg. 4. (newspapers.com)


Murder hearing delayed. (1982, Aug 12). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Glazebrook bail reduced. (1982, Sept 13). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Prosecutor, defense spar at court hearing for accused slayer. (1982, Sept 25). The Californian, pg. 4. (newspapers.com)


Expert witnesses disagree in hearing for suspect in strangulation slaying. (1982, Nov 9). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Woman recants story about Carmel slaying. (1982, Nov 12). The Californian, pg. 14. (newspapers.com)


Witness impeached, admonished. (1982, Nov 11). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Glazebrook bound over for trial. (1982, Nov 13). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Judge arraigns murder suspect. (1982, Dec 3). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Court Roundup: Murder trial continued. (1983, Feb 25). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Judge declines to drop murder charge. (1983, Feb 26). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)


Glazebrook to face second murder trial. (1983, Aug 11). The Californian, pg. 14. (newspapers.com)


Glazebrook trial date set. (1983, Aug 24). The Californian, pg. 2. (newspapers.com)