SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Law enforcement authorities in Santa Barbara County have apprehended four individuals in connection to the tragic death of a 96-year-old woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts. The arrests come after a thorough 22-month investigation into the circumstances surrounding Alberts’ demise.
During a press conference held by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, it was disclosed that the suspects involved in this disturbing case are Pauline Macareno, Harry Masmadjian, Henry Rosyomyan, and Ricardo MarinDelCampo. The investigation revealed that Alberts was discovered deceased in her Montecito residence in 2022 by her caretaker, prompting officials to delve into a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted the elderly victim.
According to authorities, the suspects allegedly devised an intricate reverse mortgage scam as part of their scheme to illegally acquire control over Alberts’ property. Detectives uncovered a trail of transactions linking Macareno to the fraudulent activities, including the falsification of documents and the establishment of fake entities to unlawfully seize Alberts’ assets.
In the wake of the investigation, Macareno received a six-year prison sentence for her involvement in defrauding Alberts. Masmadjian and Rostomyan were subsequent arrests made, with MartinDelCampo taken into custody most recently. Both Rostomyan and MartinDelCampo are presently being detained without bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges related to the murder and conspiracy to murder of Alberts.
As investigations unfolded, it was noted that Masmadjian faced similar charges while in federal custody on an unrelated offense, during which he encountered a severe medical emergency that left him incapacitated with a bleak prognosis. The meticulous efforts of detectives, amounting to over 10,000 hours, have led to significant progress in the case, although the investigation remains active.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward and assist in bringing closure to the case by contacting detectives at 805-681-4150. For those who wish to provide anonymous tips, they can do so by calling 805-681-4171.