In a press conference at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Headquarters, Sheriff Bill Brown announced the arrest of several suspects linked to a “murder-for-hire scheme” that resulted in the death of 96-year-old Violet Evelyn Alberts in 2022.
Alberts was discovered dead in her Park Lane home on May 27, 2022, by her caretaker, who promptly contacted sheriff’s deputies. Detectives uncovered signs of foul play, including evidence that she had been smothered and a broken window, suggesting a break-in.
An autopsy confirmed asphyxiation as the cause of death, prompting a homicide investigation.
Over a meticulous 22-month investigation, sheriff’s detectives identified Pauline Macareno, 48, of Porter Ranch, as the primary suspect. Investigators revealed that Macareno exploited Alberts’s vulnerability through financial elder abuse, ultimately leading to a conspiracy that resulted in her murder. At the time, Alberts’s property was valued between $4 and $11 million.
In 2020, when Alberts was struggling financially, Macareno approached her with promises of a reverse mortgage. Instead, she forged documents to seize Alberts’s valuable property.
Although Macareno was arrested in June 2022 for fraud and elder abuse, the investigation continued to unfold. This led to the arrests of three additional suspects: 33-year-old Henry Rostomyan of Tujunga, 41-year-old Ricardo Martin Del Campo of Los Angeles, and 58-year-old Harry Basmadjian of Van Nuys, all implicated in the conspiracy.
Evidence revealed a “scouting trip” by Martin Del Campo and Rostomyan just days before Alberts’s death, along with neighborhood camera footage of a suspect’s vehicle, showcasing the premeditated nature of the crime.
Sheriff Brown remarked that Alberts’s age and property likely motivated her murder, stating, “In the eyes of Ms. Macareno, Miss Alberts was living too long.”
While Macareno is viewed as the mastermind behind the financial crimes, the three men face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. Rostomyan and Basmadjian were arrested on January 2 and February 27, respectively, while Del Campo was taken into custody on March 5. During his arrest, Del Campo fled and discarded firearms that deputies later recovered, one being an illegally modified Glock semi-automatic pistol.
Macareno has been sentenced to six years in state prison but faces additional undisclosed charges. Del Campo and Rostomyan remain in custody without bail on murder and conspiracy charges, while Basmadjian, arrested while in federal custody for unrelated charges, is incapacitated due to a medical emergency.
Sheriff Brown praised the detectives involved, stating this case exemplifies their dedication. “This case is the finest example that I have ever seen,” he noted, emphasizing the thorough investigation.
When asked about the relationship between Macareno and the other suspects, Brown indicated that details will emerge in court as the case progresses.
In closing, he expressed gratitude to the various law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation and issued a warning to potential criminals considering targeting Santa Barbara: “We will hunt you down. We will arrest you. We will bring you before the bar of justice.”