Police in the Santa Barbara County community of Santa Maria are looking for any leads the public has in the Tuesday death of an 82-year-old retired Manteca Unified fourth grade teacher. 

Thomas Dutart, who spent years teaching all subjects at Sequoia Elementary School, was discovered with multiple stab wounds near his mobile home on Tuesday just before 10:30 p.m. He died later at Marian Regional Medical Center.  

According to local media accounts, Santa Maria police weren’t initially sure where the stabbing took place but believe it was near his home in a mobile home park for retirees 55-and-older. In a comment to the local NBC affiliate, Santa Maria Police Lt. Paul Van Meel said that the crime was “out of the ordinary” and noted that “there is no indication of him being involved in criminal activity contributing to this, preceding this, as a potential motive for this.”

Former Sequoia students that had him as a teacher, and even those that simply knew him as one, expressed their shock and sadness Wednesday on social media

“Mr. Dutart was one of the nicest teachers ever to grace the halls of Sequoia,” former Sequoia student Patty Sallee wrote. “Never had him as my own teacher but he was one of my favorites. 

“Truly saddened to hear of his passing.”

And some former students wrote of more fortuitous experiences with a man that they claimed was “a great educator” that impacted their lives far beyond the classroom. 

“Until I reached fourth grade, everybody called me by my full name,” Arturo Diaz wrote in a heartfelt post. “It wasn’t until I had Mr. Dutart as a teacher that I would be called ‘Art” moving forward. 

“I loved math even more because of this man. He definitely left a lasting impression in my life and its sad to read of his passing in such a tragic death.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544. 

 Police in the Santa Barbara County community of Santa Maria are looking for any leads the public has in the Tuesday death of an 82-year-old retired Manteca Unified fourth grade teacher. 

Thomas Dutart, who spent years teaching all subjects at Sequoia Elementary School, was discovered with multiple stab wounds near his mobile home on Tuesday just before 10:30 p.m. He died later at Marian Regional Medical Center.  

According to local media accounts, Santa Maria police weren’t initially sure where the stabbing took place but believe it was near his home in a mobile home park for retirees 55-and-older. In a comment to the local NBC affiliate, Santa Maria Police Lt. Paul Van Meel said that the crime was “out of the ordinary” and noted that “there is no indication of him being involved in criminal activity contributing to this, preceding this, as a potential motive for this.”

Former Sequoia students that had him as a teacher, and even those that simply knew him as one, expressed their shock and sadness Wednesday on social media

“Mr. Dutart was one of the nicest teachers ever to grace the halls of Sequoia,” former Sequoia student Patty Sallee wrote. “Never had him as my own teacher but he was one of my favorites. 

“Truly saddened to hear of his passing.”

And some former students wrote of more fortuitous experiences with a man that they claimed was “a great educator” that impacted their lives far beyond the classroom. 

“Until I reached fourth grade, everybody called me by my full name,” Arturo Diaz wrote in a heartfelt post. “It wasn’t until I had Mr. Dutart as a teacher that I would be called ‘Art” moving forward. 

“I loved math even more because of this man. He definitely left a lasting impression in my life and its sad to read of his passing in such a tragic death.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.