South Lake Tahoe cold case murder suspect's trial delayed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A jury trial had been set for July 20, 2021, for the suspected killer of gas station attendant Manpreet Singh, but it has been delayed.

On the evening of August 3, 2013, Manpreet Singh was working his shift at the U.S. Gasoline station at the corner of Lodi Avenue and US-50 in South Lake Tahoe when someone walked into the store at 10:40 p.m. and shot and killed him. There was no robbery and the killer walked out the door and into the night.

For eight years the murder remained unsolved but cold case investigators with the El Dorado County Cold Case Task Force (South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County District Attorney's Office, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Science and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) continued to work on it. In 2017, they released a video in hopes that someone would come forward with information leading to the killer.

A witness watched that video and led law enforcement to the person they believe is responsible. Sean Donohoe, 37, formerly of South Lake Tahoe, was arrested in Las Vegas on May 12, 2020. He has been in the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe since that time.

On Friday, June 11, 2021, Donohoe appeared in court for what was to be an early readiness/settlement conference with the DA's office and Donohoe and his lawyer. His trial was set to begin July 20, but it has been delayed. Donohoe's lawyer, Steve Whitworth of Elk Grove, is currently not able to practice law. His license has been temporarily suspended by the State Bar due to an issue of comingling of funds for another client with his personal office account (funds are required to be placed in a separate trust account). It is a one year suspension with all but 60 days stayed. He is due to be reinstated on July 19 but asked Judge Suzanne Kingsbury for 30 more days to get the case ready.

Donahoe said he was unaware of his lawyer's current situation.

"This complicates a complicated situation," said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson who was in court. He said his staff is prepared and ready for trial.

"The family is in India and they are waiting for justice," said Pierson.

Judge Kingsbury told those in court to return on July 26. At that time they will set a new trial date. She was concerned that the clerk's office had already prepared the letters to go to potential jurors and now that process will have to start over.

Manpreet Singh, who was born in India in 1985, had a dream to move to America. He grew up in the town of Kinsanewali, India, and first became interested in the move during his schooling in Amloh, India.

In 2011, Manpreet was able to make his dream come true. It was a long journey for him, traveling through several countries before he finally made it to the United States, landing first in Bakersfield, California, then moving to Carlin, Nevada. In October of 2012, he moved to South Lake Tahoe and began working at the gas station.