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California suspects accused of murdering 96-year-old widow who was baking cookies for her birthday: police

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California suspects accused of murdering 96-year-old widow who was baking cookies for her birthday: police


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California authorities recently identified four suspects allegedly involved in the 2022 murder of a 96-year-old woman in Santa Barbara County.

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Porter Ranch resident Pauline Macareno, 48, and Van Nuys resident Harry Basmadjian, 58, were both named as suspects in the murder of Monecito resident Violet Alberts, 96, on Thursday. 

Los Angeles resident Ricardo MartinDelCampo, 41, and Tujunga local Henry Rostomyan, 33, were also listed as suspects.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Macareno was charged with elder abuse, fraud and manipulation of legal documents. The other three suspects face charges ranging from murder to conspiracy and solicitation of murder.

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Basmadjian and Rostomyan were arrested in January and February, respectively, while MartinDelCampo was arrested most recently on March 5. According to Sheriff Bill Brown, Macareno targeted Alberts for her wealth.

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Ricardo MartinDelCampo, left, Pauline Macareno and Henry Rostomyan are all suspects in Violet Alberts’ murder case. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)

“Through deceptive means, Macareno orchestrated a series of transactions, including forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control over Alberts’ assets unlawfully,” he detailed.

Macareno reportedly tricked the victim by offering her a reverse mortgage in 2020. Authorities believe that Macareno was motivated by Alberts’ advanced age.

“In the eyes of Pauline Macareno, Miss Alberts was living too long…She would probably die quickly, and then [Macareno] would have obtained this home through fraudulent means,” Brown said. “And so the acceleration of her death is is presumably what was, what was behind the murder.”

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Alberts was found dead in her bed by her caretaker on May 24, 2022. Officials later determined that she died of asphyxiation, and her death was ruled a homicide. 

Violet Alberts, 96, is fondly remembered as a beloved resident of the Montecito community.  (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)

Ingredients for cookies were found on her kitchen table when authorities investigated the scene. The cookies were for her then-upcoming birthday.

Police found a shattered window in Alberts’ bedroom, which Sheriff Bill Brown said indicated “sinister intent behind her tragic death.” In a press release, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said that it has worked 10,424 hours “unraveling the complex web surrounding Violet Alberts’s tragic murder.”

The mugshots of all the suspects were released except for Basmadjian. The sheriff’s office said that he “subsequently suffered a life-threatening medical emergency that left him totally incapacitated with a grim prognosis.”

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This aerial view shows the Montecito neighborhood of Santa Barbara, Calif. (DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)

During a Thursday press conference, Alberts was fondly remembered as a beloved resident of her community. 

“She was a vibrant 96-year-old widow, a cherished figure in the Montecito community,” Sheriff Bill Brown said at the podium. “Despite her age, she had remained active and engaged, and she was known for her warm demeanor and social nature.”

“Her love for her home, complete with a pond filled with cherished koi fish that she brought from Beverly Hills, reflected her appreciation for life’s simpler pleasures. Despite facing challenges with her memory and cognition, Violet’s spirit remained undaunted. This was evident in her plans to celebrate her upcoming birthday by baking fresh cookies.”

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Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the case. (Google Maps)

Authorities are still investigating the incident. Anyone with information relevant to the case is encouraged to call (805) 681-4150.



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California Upsets No. 14 Louisville Cardinals in Overtime Thriller

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California Upsets No. 14 Louisville Cardinals in Overtime Thriller


California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for a career-high 323 passing yards against the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals on Nov. 8, 2025. (Courtesy: Cal Athletics)

California traveled to Louisville, Ky., in search of a statement win against the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals (7-2, 4-2 ACC), and the Golden Bears (6-4, 3-3 ACC) pulled out all the stops Saturday evening to earn the upset, 29-26, in overtime.

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On the first play of the game, California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a lateral to his slot receiver, Jacob de Jesus, who then connected with Trond Grizzell on a deep 27-yard pass. While the Golden Bears would not score on the drive, their fast and aggressive play early on silenced much of the 51,381 in attendance.

California out-gained Louisville in total yards and offensive plays throughout the entire game. The Golden Bears never once trailed the nationally ranked Cardinals by more than one score, despite entering the game as three-score underdogs, according to many sportsbooks’ odds.

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Sagapolutele earned the game-winning touchdown in overtime with a nail-biting throw on fourth down. California’s first-year signal-caller found his favorite target of the evening, de Jesus, who brought in the three-yard reception to close out the game.

De Jesus had a game-high 157 receiving yards and hauled in 16 of 23 passes in which he was targeted. His 16 receptions tie Geoff McArthur’s school record for receptions by a receiver in a single game.

In his post-game press conference, Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm praised de Jesus, calling him California’s “best player.”

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“… Even at the end, to allow their best player to be one-on-one for an easy throw in the corner… you know, we need to coach better; we need to play better,” Coach Brohm said.

Sagapolutele completed 30 out of 47 passes attempted and racked up 323 passing yards—both career highs. In addition to the game-decider, the quarterback threw his first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, a 20-yard bomb to tight end Landon Morris.

The last time California beat a nationally ranked, top-25 team was on Dec. 5, 2020, when the Golden Bears upset the No. 20 Oregon Ducks, 21-17, for their first win in the 2020 college football season.

With the win, California is now eligible for a post-season bowl bid.



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Mom of missing California girl arrested on unrelated charges of daughter’s disappearance

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Mom of missing California girl arrested on unrelated charges of daughter’s disappearance


CALIFORNIA (AZFamily) — The mother of a missing California girl has been arrested on charges unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance, but the child still has yet to be found.

FBI Los Angeles announced that 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody on Friday. However, the whereabouts of her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, remain unknown.

FBI Los Angeles announced that 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody on Friday. However, the whereabouts of her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, remain unknown.(FBI Los Angeles)

Melodee and Ashlee reportedly went on a road trip as far as Nebraska in a rental white Chevrolet Malibu last month, detectives say. Federal authorities say Melodee and her mother may have passed through Interstate 15 in Littlefield, Arizona while on the drive.

Detectives say Ashlee was arrested for a recent incident where she allegedly prevented a victim from leaving against their will. Authorities say this crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee.

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“Although this arrest occurred during the course of the missing person investigation, it is not directly related to Melodee’s disappearance. Sheriff’s detectives remain fully focused on locating Melodee and confirming her safety,” FBI Los Angeles said in a statement.

Ashlee was booked for a felony charge of false imprisonment. She is being held at a jail in Santa Maria, California, with bail set at $100,000.

Melodee was photographed at a rental car agency on Oct. 7, wearing a wig and a hoodie.

When she was photographed on Oct. 7 at a rental car agency, Melodee Buzzard was wearing what...
When she was photographed on Oct. 7 at a rental car agency, Melodee Buzzard was wearing what appeared to be a wig to disguise her natural hair and a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over her head.(Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, FBI via CNN Newsource)

The young girl has brown eyes and brown, curly hair that may be straightened or covered with a dark wig. She is between four and four-and-a-half feet tall, weighing between 60 and 100 pounds.

Anyone with information about Melodee is asked to contact detectives at (805) 681-4150 or submit an anonymous tip at (805) 681-4171.

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Home Ronald and Nancy Reagan commissioned as California Governor’s Mansion hits the market

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Home Ronald and Nancy Reagan commissioned as California Governor’s Mansion hits the market



A Carmichael home that was originally designed to be California’s official Governor’s Mansion is now up for sale.

The mid-century modern home, located at 2300 California Avenue, was built in 1975 after being commissioned by Ronald and Nancy Reagan to replace the aging governor’s mansion at 16th and H streets in Sacramento.

The home is known as  “La Casa de los Gobernadores.”

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By the time construction was finished, Reagan had already left office. His successor, Jerry Brown, declined to move in – famously dismissing the Carmichael residence as the “Taj Mahal.”

No California governor ever called the mansion home, with the property being sold to a private citizen in 1983. 

A time capsule installed at the property recognizes the home’s history. The capsule is scheduled to be opened on July 4, 2076.

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time-capsule.jpg

The historical plaque installed next to a water feature in the home.

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Now, as of Oct. 16, the Carmichael home has hit the market with a list price of $7.5 million. The property spans 4.3 acres that overlook the American River, with the home featuring a total of 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, and 2 half bathrooms.

“You can really feel the history here,” said realtor Hattie Coleman in a statement.

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The view of the American River from the home.

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The Carmichael home last sold in 2004 for $4.1 million.

The East Sacramento home Reagan lived in for much of his time as California governor was designated as a historic landmark in 2024. 



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