Local authorities disclosed on March 7th that the death of a 96-year-old woman, discovered in her Montecito, California, residence in May 2022, was linked to a fraud scheme that escalated into a murder-for-hire plot. Perpetrators became increasingly impatient with her prolonged survival, prompting them to resort to drastic measures.
Violet Alberts, aged 96, was a beloved elderly widow known for her warmth and sociability. Despite facing financial struggles, she remained actively involved in her local community. Tragically, while she was preparing to bake cookies for her upcoming birthday, the assailants struck. Responding officers discovered the ingredients laid out on the kitchen table, with Alberts found lifeless in her bed.
Upon inspection of the scene, authorities noted a shattered window in the bedroom, prompting them to launch a murder investigation. During a press conference on March 7th, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Paul Brown revealed that Alberts had died from asphyxiation, with the coroner ruling her death a homicide.
“The case was revealed to be a tangled, evil web of financial exploitation against the victim,” remarked Brown. At the heart of this deceitful web, Pauline Macareno, aged 48, seized upon Alberts’ vulnerability, masquerading as a real estate agent to illegitimately acquire Alberts’ home.
“Through deceptive means, Macareno orchestrated a series of transactions, including forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control over Alberts’ assets unlawfully,” stated Brown. Allegedly, Macareno exploited Alberts’ trust by presenting her with a fraudulent reverse mortgage, promising increased cash flow while covertly aiming to take possession of her property.
However, as Macareno grew impatient with Alberts’ prolonged lifespan, she allegedly became determined to expedite the inheritance of Alberts’ estate. According to authorities, it was at this juncture that the fraud scheme evolved into a murder-for-hire plot.
Authorities assert that Macareno colluded with three individuals—Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo—to infiltrate Alberts’ residence and terminate her life. According to reports, two of them engaged in a reconnaissance mission days prior to the murder, underscoring the premeditated nature of the crime and emphasizing the calculated efforts made to end Alberts’ life.
The trio was apprehended between January and March and is currently facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. While Rostomyan and MartinDelCampo are detained in county jail without bail, Basmadjian remains in federal custody following a severe injury that rendered him “essentially brain dead,” as stated by Brown.
Macareno was previously arrested in June 2022 for elder abuse and recently received a six-year prison sentence for the fraud she perpetrated. Additional charges related to the murder conspiracy could be forthcoming against her.
Relevant articles:
– Widow, 96, preparing to celebrate her birthday was killed in alleged murder-for-hire plot at her home, NBC News
– 96-Year-Old Woman Killed in Murder-for-Hire Plot While Baking Cookies, Cops Say, The Daily Beast, Mar 8, 2024
– 4 arrested in alleged murder-for-hire plot of 96-year-old woman for ‘living too long’, WBMA, Mar 10, 2024