She Invited Him to Share Her Place at the Manor. He Murdered Her in Return

SANTA MONICA - A 35-year-old man has been charged with murder in the July 25 killing of a 27-year-old woman at The Manor, an adult residential facility at 1905 Pico Boulevard that houses people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

The victim has been identified as Cheyenne Zampino, 27. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, she died from sharp force injuries to the neck in a bathroom at the facility. Police responded around 5:21 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, to a call about a woman needing medical assistance in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard, near Santa Monica College. Officers found Zampino with significant injuries. Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect, Taylor Roger Free, 35, of San Luis Obispo, was arrested later that evening. After witnesses provided information, Santa Monica detectives shared details with the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD officers located Free near Crenshaw and Exposition boulevards in Los Angeles around 8 p.m. He was transported to the Santa Monica Police Department Jail and booked on suspicion of murder. Bail was set at $2 million.

On Tuesday, July 28, Free was formally charged with murder along with a special allegation for the use of a deadly weapon. He pleaded not guilty. Police have described the incident as isolated and said no additional suspects are being sought. The investigation remains active.

This was Santa Monica's fifth homicide of 2026, one more than the city's total for all of 2025. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.