Mary Moran

Mary Moran, a woman remembered for her kind, generous, and loyal spirit, was 58 years old when her life was tragically cut short. Those who knew her recall a friendly, upbeat woman with an amazing sense of humor who was also described as sassy and beautiful. A graduate of Notre Dame High School in Belmont, California, Mary had dedicated over a decade of her life, from 2000 to 2011, to serving her community as a 911 dispatcher in Redwood City. A mother of two, she was a cherished part of her family and community in Nevada City, California.

The afternoon of Saturday, April 13, 2024, turned into a scene of tragedy when a relative arrived at Mary’s home on the 12000 block of Half Moon Way. At approximately 5:08 p.m., the relative placed a frantic 911 call after discovering Mary deceased in her room. Deputies from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office responded to the quiet residential street and confirmed that Mary Moran, a White female, had died from a fatal gunshot wound. The case was immediately classified as a homicide.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit quickly identified a primary suspect: Mary’s 64-year-old boyfriend and live-in partner, Kenneth Breining. When deputies arrived, Breining was gone, and so was Mary’s vehicle. An urgent search was launched, and law enforcement agencies across Northern California were alerted to be on the lookout for Breining and the missing car. Information soon led investigators to believe that Breining had fled to the Sacramento area.

The search involved a coordinated effort between multiple agencies. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office provided both ground and air support, scouring the region for any sign of the suspect. The manhunt came to a dramatic end in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 14. At around 3:45 a.m., Sacramento County deputies were dispatched to a residence on Pasadena Avenue in the Arden Arcade area for a report of a shooting. Inside, they found Kenneth Breining. He had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head but was still alive.

Paramedics rushed Breining to a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in custody while receiving treatment for his injuries. Mary Moran’s missing vehicle was found at the Pasadena Avenue home and was impounded as evidence. Following his medical treatment, Breining was booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada County on April 22, 2024, on a murder charge.

The investigation into Mary’s death is being handled by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from criminalists with the California Department of Justice who helped process the crime scene. The case is being treated as a domestic violence-related homicide. Public records and reports indicate that months before the killing, Breining had been arrested and charged with attempted murder in a separate incident involving his brother-in-law, but was out on bail.

As of late 2024, Kenneth Breining remains in custody in Nevada County, where he is awaiting trial for the murder of Mary Moran. The case continues to move through the court system, leaving a family and community to mourn the senseless loss of a woman they remember as a loving mother and a loyal, kind-hearted friend.