Del Norte County Sheriff Deputy Deanna Esmaeel, Mother of 'The Sandlot' Star Marty York, Found Dead; Boyfriend in Custody

In a tragic turn of events, Del Norte County Sheriff Deputy Deanna Esmaeel, mother of "The Sandlot" star Marty York, was discovered lifeless at her residence on North Bank Road in Crescent City, California. The harrowing incident unfolded on a fateful Thursday morning, and the department officially disclosed the unsettling news via a Facebook announcement on Friday.

The heart-wrenching discovery of Deputy Esmaeel's lifeless body has prompted a full-scale homicide investigation. Law enforcement agencies issued an alert while intensively searching for the suspect, who was promptly identified as her boyfriend, Daniel James Walter, known to have legally changed his name to Edward Patrick Davies. However, as the shockwaves rippled through the community, a glimmer of relief emerged as the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office confirmed the suspect's apprehension later on the same Friday evening.

Amid the heart-rending tragedy, Marty York, renowned for his portrayal of Alan 'Yeah-Yeah' McClennan in the iconic 1993 film "The Sandlot," confirmed his mother's untimely demise. Expressing his anguish, the 43-year-old actor took to Instagram to share the devastating news, alongside a poignant photograph of himself with Deputy Esmaeel and a wanted flyer released by the Del Norte County Sheriff's department. In his heartfelt post, he disclosed, "This is the hardest post I'll ever have to write, but I found out from the sheriff department last night that my mother was murdered by a man she was seeing." Overwhelmed by emotions, York revealed feelings of rage, vengeance, and heart-wrenching sorrow, making a fervent plea to the public, "There is a nationwide manhunt underway, please, if you've seen this man, contact the authorities immediately!" His impassioned cry for justice extended to his Facebook page, where he implored, "More information on this piece of s---! Please find him. I am going through such horrible emotions, anger, sadness, rage. I want vengeance! You killed my mom."

Through a series of poignant posts on his Facebook page, York continued to express his profound grief, sharing a picture of himself with his mother, accompanied by the words, "Mom, please come back," along with a cascade of crying face emojis. With unwavering determination, he proclaimed, "We will find you," and emphasized the dire need for justice. 

In a significant update, authorities declared that the suspect, Walter, had been "located and detained by Brookings PD and is in custody in Curry County, Oregon." The prior statement had indicated that Walter was last seen near North Bank Road at 7:43 a.m. on Thursday and had left the area on foot. The subsequent update also confirmed the discovery of Walter's vehicle. Sheriff Scott, in a statement featured on the department's Facebook post, conveyed, "We are all deeply heartbroken with the loss of Deputy Esmaeel. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and co-workers."

Marty York, known for his iconic role in "The Sandlot," has also graced 1990s television series like "Saved by the Bell: The College Years," "Boy Meets World," "Sliders," and "Hey Arnold." In 2017, he made a guest appearance in an episode of the Showtime series "SMILF." The incident has garnered the attention of OregonDispatch.com, who reached out to York's representative and the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office for further comment as the community comes to terms with this heartbreaking loss.