Montecito, California – A 96-year-old woman named Violet Alberts was tragically found dead in her Montecito home in May 2022. Authorities revealed that Alberts had fallen victim to a fraud scheme that took a sinister turn into a murder-for-hire plot due to the perpetrators’ impatience.
Described as a warm and social elderly widow who was actively involved in her local community despite facing financial hardship, Alberts was discovered by responding police officers after an apparent break-in at her home. It was evident that she had been preparing to bake cookies for her upcoming birthday, a detail that added to the tragic nature of the crime.
Following an autopsy that revealed Alberts had died of asphyxiation, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Paul Brown declared her death a homicide during a press conference. Brown described the case as a disturbing web of financial exploitation, shedding light on the manipulation and deceit that led to Alberts’ untimely demise.
The orchestrator behind the fraud scheme was identified as Pauline Macareno, who took advantage of Alberts’ vulnerability by posing as a real estate agent to fraudulently acquire Alberts’ house. By using deceptive tactics such as forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities, Macareno unlawfully gained control of Alberts’ assets, including her home.
As the scheme progressed, Macareno’s frustration grew as she awaited Alberts’ passing. This impatience ultimately led Macareno to collaborate with three men – Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo – in a plot to end Alberts’ life. The premeditated nature of the crime was evident as two of the men conducted a scouting trip prior to the murder, showcasing the calculated efforts to carry out the heinous act.
The trio was apprehended between January and March and now face charges of murder and conspiracy to murder. While Rostomyan and MartinDelCampo are being held without bail in county jail, Basmadjian remains in federal custody due to a severe injury that has left him essentially brain dead. Macareno, who was previously arrested for elder abuse, has now been sentenced to 6 years in prison for her fraudulent actions and may face additional charges related to the murder conspiracy.