Placerville, Calif. (March 6, 2025) — The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a new “soft” interview room, designed to provide a more comfortable and trauma-informed setting for victims of violent crimes as they speak with investigators.
Detective Katie Prescott, who specializes in sexual assault cases, worked alongside Kris Pedretti of Phyllis’s Garden, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors, to make this invaluable space a reality. “The point of a soft interview room is to put victims at ease,” Prescott said.
Pedretti, a survivor of the Golden State Killer, has been instrumental in helping law enforcement agencies establish similar rooms across the region. She recalled her own experience, noting that traditional interview settings often feel intimidating. “The detective at the time wasn’t mean, but he wasn’t compassionate. He wasn’t empathetic or kind—he just wanted the facts,” she said. Through Phyllis’s Garden, she aims to change that experience for future survivors.
The initiative was highlighted in a recent KCRA news report by journalist Lee Anne Denyer, documenting the outstanding work of Phyllis’s Garden in supporting victims of violent crime. The full news story can be viewed here.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office hopes the soft interview room will encourage more survivors to come forward, knowing they will be met with compassion and understanding.
For more information, contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 621-5655 or visit their official website: eldoradocounty.ca.gov.
— Cris Alarcon is a staff writer covering public safety and community initiatives in El Dorado County.
