Keith Fessler's custom-made guitars were just part of the collection of instruments, books, fishing gear and other items that a close friend said represented Fessler's constant hunger to learn new things.
Fessler, 44, was killed in his home June 23 and the guitars stolen in a rare case of arson, burglary and homicide.
On Tuesday, police officials released the known serial numbers of the stolen instruments. Detectives hope those guitars – together worth about $30,000 – will help police find Fessler's killers.
"At this point, we're hoping the public can become our eyes and ears for this case," said Detective Vonda Walker, one of two homicide detectives with the Sacramento Police Department leading the investigation.
On June 23, the Sacramento Fire Department was called to a fire on the 7400 block of Carella Drive. After firefighters put out the blaze, they discovered Fessler, 44, dead in his bedroom.
About 12 hours later, police found Fessler's car, a sunset orange 2004 Honda Element, abandoned and burned about a mile from his home.
Detectives said it was immediately clear that Fessler had been killed, according to Detective Bryce Heinlein, another investigator on the case. Heinlein said they had no clues to indicate whether the killers had planned the burglary, and he couldn't confirm the cause of death while the investigation is in progress.
"The people involved definitely wanted to cover their tracks, and they had some knowledge of how to do this," Heinlein said.
Investigators have searched Web sites such as Craigslist and area pawnshops for the guitars. Police believe that 10 to 12 instruments were taken from Fessler's home.
Longtime friend Tom Horton said that Fessler was like an uncle to his four children.
Fessler was a field engineer for Kaiser Permanente. He had lived alone in his Sacramento home for about 13 years, according to Horton, and had no children.
"If he was sweet on a girl, he was probably too shy to say anything," said Horton, whom the Fessler family asked to serve as their spokesman.
Fessler was a loyal Green Bay Packers football fan and an avid windsurfer who practiced meditation, according to Horton, but his passion was music. Fessler played about 15 different instruments and produced his own albums.
Horton said he saw Fessler the night before he was killed. The two sat in Fessler's backyard and listened to some of his latest music compositions.
"He loved to stay up late, talk about everything, solve the world's problems," Horton said.
Call The Bee's Julie Johnson, (916) 321-5287.
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