The Clinton woman charged with the premeditated murder of her sister in California placed her own obituary in a Whidbey Island newspaper before the crime was committed.

Linda Thomas, 71, went into the office of the South Whidbey Record on Sept. 22 and paid for the obituary.

Island law enforcement also confirmed that Thomas was driven to California by a South Whidbey man.

He was interviewed by local law enforcement at the request of California investigators, Island County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ed Wallace said.

The man, described as a family friend, “didn’t know what she was going to do,” Wallace said.

Thomas appeared in a Richmond, Calif. courtroom Friday for arraignment. The hearing was continued until Nov. 10.

Thomas is facing a murder charge in the Oct. 17 shooting death of her sister, Zonna Thomas, 69.

The charge carries three enhancements: personal and intentional discharge of a firearm for bodily harm, a special allegation for murder lying in wait and a special allegation for felony burglary resulting in murder.

Thomas also faces charges of attempted murder, burglary and two counts of elder abuse, each of which have their own special enhancements.

She is being held without bail in Martinez Detention Facility.

Attempts to obtain comment from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office were unsuccessful. An area newspaper, however, reported Thomas is eligible for the death penalty, but that prosecutors will not seek it.

News of the murder rocked people on South Whidbey, particularly in the Possession Shores area where Linda Thomas lived.

Shellie Moore characterized Thomas as “the best neighbor in the world.”

“She was beloved in the neighborhood,” Moore said. “I just can’t imagine this person doing that.”

Moore said Linda Thomas and her late husband, Richard Thomas, grew pumpkins and let Possession Shores children come to their house and pick them.

They also made cider and threw annual gatherings for family and friends.

Linda Thomas was a regular at Brookhaven in Langley, eating lunch there almost every day.

She was also known for helping young people, helping to pay for their higher education.

Thomas’ husband, who died last year, was a longtime South Whidbey Elementary School volunteer.

According to court documents, Linda Thomas sold her home and was preparing to move in with her daughter, who lives in Maxwelton, but she instead traveled to California and allegedly shot and killed her sister.

Police said they suspect the murder was premeditated.

Her husband, Richard, was the brother of the victim’s husband, Donald Thomas.

In an officer’s account of the murder, Linda Thomas was dropped off at the couple’s Rodeo, Calif. home by two unidentified men before noon on Friday, Oct. 16.

The reunion was without incident until late that evening when Donald Thomas heard a gunshot and walked into the kitchen to find Zonna Thomas face down on the floor.

She was shot in the head.

Linda Thomas turned the gun toward Donald Thomas and a scuffle ensued.

Donald Thomas said he wrested the gun away from Linda Thomas and called for help, according to police reports.

He told investigators the family had a long-standing quarrel over money that was inherited after the death of his father years earlier.

When Linda Thomas was taken into custody, she had zip ties and duct tape among her belongings. She was wearing around her neck laminated documents that outlined her burial wishes, investigator reports said.

Following the murder, search warrants were obtained for Linda Thomas’ South Whidbey home and car.

Among items collected were financial records.

California police detectives contacted The Record and Whidbey News-Times offices this week to ask whether the newspapers were contacted about an obituary for Linda Thomas.

Thomas not only prepaid for her own obituary, but went into The Record’s office in Freeland on Sept. 22 to hand deliver the notice with a photo of her holding a small dog.

The Record is a sister newspaper of the Whidbey News-Times.

“She had a calm demeanor, like anyone bringing in an obit,” said Rebecca Collins, The Record’s graphic artist.

“She didn’t say it was for her, she just said it was for Linda Thomas.”

While confirming contact information, Collins said she noticed the names were the same and asked if there was a mistake.

“That’s when she said the obit was for (her),” Collins said. “I thought it was really odd; I thought it might be a joke, but she was really serious.”

Moore, a real estate agent, confirmed that Thomas recently sold her house in Possession Shores.

Moore said she hopes that people will withhold judgement until more details in the case are revealed.

“It’s just not who she was,” Moore said.