FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2022

Contact:
Jamie Patton
jamie@upliftcampaigns.com
(415) 302-1179 

Mary Knox, Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney and candidate for District Attorney Releases First Campaign ad featuring local family member of Victim

Ad Features Stephanie Mullen, Sister of 14-year-old Suzanne Bombardier who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1980. Suzanne’s killer, Mitchell Bacom, was identified in 2017 through advances in DNA technology.  Mary Knox prosecuted Bacom, convicting him in 2022. 

MARTINEZ, CA– Mary Knox, Candidate for Contra Costa District Attorney, released her first campaign ad this week, featuring Stephanie Mullen, the Sister of 14-ear-old Suzanne Bombardier who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1980. Mary Knox prosecuted the case and a Contra Costa jury convicted Mitchell Lynn Bacom, who is now facing a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole. 

Watch the ad here. 

“While nothing can bring Suzie back to her family, I am so grateful that justice has been served and that our County is now safe from a repeat sex offender who will spend the rest of his life in prison where he can no longer victimize vulnerable women and children,” said Mary Knox, candidate for Contra Costa County District Attorney.  “We must restore the essential partnership between the DA’s office and law enforcement so that we can ensure greater safety in our communities. As District Attorney, I will put public safety first and work to rebuild the bridge between Contra Costa residents, law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office.”

Mary Knox has served as a Prosecutor in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for 37 years and has extensive trial experience, including successfully prosecuting some of the County’s most challenging criminal cases. Knox has earned the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in the County, as well as statewide organizations such as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association,  PORAC, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association. Mary has advanced social justice while preventing crime in Contra Costa County.  She brought anti-bias training to the District Attorney’s Office and has fought to end discrimination against women in the Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office.

Mary Knox and the incumbent are the only candidates running for election as District Attorney.  Since this election will be won by a simple majority, the election of the next District Attorney of Contra Costa County will be determined by the votes cast on June 7, 2022.

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Background: 

Antioch man convicted of murdering 14-year-old Suzanne Bombardier, 42 years later, Mercury News,  https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/03/15/antioch-man-convicted-of-murdering-14-year-old-suzanne-bombardier-42-years-later/ 2022 March 16.

Mary Knox Bio: 

Mary Knox has dedicated her life to making Contra Costa County safer. For more than 37 years, Mary has served as an experienced prosecutor and advocate for crime victims. As a lead prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office, Mary has won high profile cases against some of the most notorious criminals in Contra Costa County history. She worked to dismantle the criminal gangs who have preyed upon our most disadvantaged communities, and she has engaged in meaningful violence reduction by instituting effective strategies to reduce crime and prosecute violent criminals. To discourage freeway shootings, she secured $3.5 million for freeway security cameras. She brought in $3.5 million in federal funding to combat sex trafficking. And, after recent smash and grab robberies, Mary developed a three-point plan to hold organized crime syndicates accountable and prevent future crimes.

Born and raised in Walnut Creek, Mary Knox attended UCLA and then Pepperdine Law School. During law school, Mary worked as a law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in the Sexual Assault Unit and in a second clerkship in the Juvenile Unit. Once Mary graduated from law school, she came home and has worked as a prosecutor in the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s for the past 37 years while raising her son, Darien, as a single mother.

Key Endorsements (for a complete list visit maryknox4da.com): 

• Crime Victims United

• Police Officer Research Association of California (PORAC)

• California Narcotic Officers’ Association (CNOA)

• California Correctional Peace Officers Association

• Central Coast Gang Investigators Association 

• National Latino Police Officer Association – Contra Costa County NLPOA Advocacy Chapter

• Contra Costa County Sheriff, David Livingston 

• Mitchell Celaya III, Calistoga Police Chief

• Douglas Krathwal, Retired San Pablo Police Chief

• Joseph Aida, Retired San Pablo Police Chief

• Walt Schuld, Retired San Pablo Police Chief

• John Moore, Retired Pleasant Hill Police Chief

• Dan Lawrence, Retired Clayton Police Chief

• Tom Holt, Former Police Lieutenant from the Contra Costa Community College District

• Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association 

• Contra Costa District Attorney Investigators Association

• El Cerrito Police Officer Association

• Hercules Police Officer Association

• Martinez Police Officer Association

• Oakley Police Officer Association

• Pinole Police Officer Association

• Pittsburg Police Officer Association

• Pleasant Hill Police Officer Association

• San Ramon Police Officer Association

• Antioch Police Officer Association

• BART Police Officer Association

• Brentwood Police Officer Association

• Richmond Police Officer Association

• San Pablo Police Employees’ Association

• Clayton Police Officer Association

• Concord Police Officer Association

• East Bay Regional Parks Police Officer Association  

• Walnut Creek Police Officer Association