A truck follows a woman past a Marysville Habit Burger before she is killed. One year later, a newspaper article leads to a 24-year sentence
"At every turn, she wanted nothing to do with him.”
A 41-year-old Yuba City man is heading to state prison for 24 years following his role in the 2023 death of Amery Sweany. According to KRCR, Ricky Singh Lasher received this sentence on Monday, October 26, 2026, after entering a no contest plea to voluntary manslaughter. He also admitted to a separate felony sexual battery charge stemming from a 2024 incident.
This outcome brings a conclusion to a lengthy investigation that relied on surveillance footage and a crucial tip from a member of the public. The path to the conviction began with a grim discovery in a Marysville orchard. On April 27, 2023, a passerby found Sweany’s body near the road. An autopsy later confirmed she died from blunt force injuries, which investigators determined were consistent with being run over by a truck.
For nearly a year, the case remained cold without a clear suspect. That changed when a witness saw a report in a local newspaper about the case and contacted authorities. This information proved vital, eventually leading to the arrest of Lasher in 2024.
Before his arrest, Lasher had been living in Yuba City
Prosecutors highlighted that his actions on April 26, 2023, were captured on security cameras throughout Marysville. Surveillance video showed Lasher driving a white truck and repeatedly approaching Sweany near an ampm and a Habit Burger & Grill. The district attorney’s office noted, “Video showed that Lasher left and returned multiple times seemingly circling Amery, approaching her over and over again.”
The footage captured Sweany appearing increasingly agitated by these persistent advances. She eventually walked into the ampm to get away from him. The situation turned more aggressive when Lasher grabbed Sweany’s bag, which contained her belongings, and drove off.
According to the office of the Yuba County District Attorney, investigators believe Lasher later convinced Sweany to enter his truck by offering her drugs. This was a tactic they claim he used with other women in the past. He then allegedly drove her to an orchard located off Simpson Lane. Prosecutors suggest he attempted to sexually assault her at that location.
Evidence found at the orchard site provided a clear picture of what occurred during those final moments. Investigators discovered tire tracks and shoe impressions in the dirt. These findings indicated that Sweany fought back against Lasher and attempted to flee on foot.
Prosecutors allege that Lasher then followed her down the road in his rented truck and struck her. The medical examination of the body identified tire marks that matched the vehicle. Grass and debris recovered from the truck also linked the vehicle to the scene. The final surveillance footage of Sweany alive showed her walking east on Eighth Street while Lasher’s truck traveled west in the opposite direction.
Sweany’s sister has spoken out about the ordeal
According to Us Weekly, Ariana Sweany, the sister of the victim, shared her perspective on the events in a statement. She expressed that Lasher was a complete stranger who had been stalking her sister. Ariana told The Sacramento Bee, “At every turn, she wanted nothing to do with him. The last time my sister was seen alive on camera, she was still trying to get away from him.”
The legal resolution involved a plea agreement that replaced a potential murder charge with one for voluntary manslaughter. Prosecutors explained that the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office and the family of the victim agreed to this move. They determined that certain gaps in the available evidence could leave jurors feeling uncertain, making the plea a more reliable path to justice.
Lasher entered his plea on April 10. As part of the conditions, he must register as a sex offender for life. He has permanently lost his California driving privilege.
Ariana Sweany remembered her sister as a person who was “compassionate, strong-willed, nurturing, and confident.” She described her as someone who consistently stood up for herself and others. In a comment posted under a news release from the district attorney’s office on Facebook, Ariana thanked the authorities for their work. She wrote, “Thank you for all your steadfast and diligent work in solving what I know was an incredibly difficult case.”
The district attorney’s office issued a statement following the sentencing
The office said, “The sentencing marks the end of a difficult investigation and prosecution that strove to bring justice for Amery and several other women whose vulnerabilities Lasher exploited.”
Ariana also reflected on her sister’s final moments and character. She noted that while Amery was at a vulnerable point in her life, she still showed strong discernment. “She fought,” Ariana said. “She is my big sister and she will always be my hero.”
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of public awareness. Had the witness not come forward after reading that specific newspaper report, the investigation might have stalled indefinitely. Lasher remains in custody as he begins his sentence for these crimes.
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