Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying those responsible for the murder of an elderly Montecito woman last year.
Violet Evelyn Alberts, 96, was found dead on May 27, 2022, in her home on the 900 block of Park Lane, and an autopsy confirmed she was the victim of a homicide, according to Raquel Zick, a public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Alberts’ murder, investigators this week released two grainy black-and-white photos of an SUV possibly linked to the killing.
“The Sheriff’s Office has developed information regarding a suspect vehicle seen entering and leaving the property during the time of the murder,” Zick said. “The Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to the public to identify the owner or occupant of the included pictured mid-sized SUV.”
Detectives are asking Montecito residents to check any surveillance footage from May 2022 for this vehicle.
The Sheriff’s Office also announced this week that a $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Alberts’ murder.
Anyone with information about the suspect vehicle or the case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at 805.681.4150.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call the Sheriff’s Office’s anonymous tip line at 805.681.4171, or email tips@sbsheriff.org.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released any details about how Alberts was killed.
Before her death, Alberts was the victim of real estate fraud, which is being investigated by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Zick said.
The suspect involved in the alleged fraud — Pauline Lisa Macareno, 47 — has been in custody since Aug. 9, 2022, and is being held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators have not said whether they believe there is any connection between Alberts’ murder and Macareno and the fraud case.
Macareno allegedly attempted to fraudulently take possession of Alberts’ Montecito property.
In a criminal complaint filed this week, Macareno was charged with 18 felony counts. They include:
- Four counts of identity theft
- Four counts of procuring false documents relating to a real estate transaction
- Three counts of conspiracy
- Two counts of first-degree residential burglary
- One count of forgery
- One count of theft from an elder
- One count of loan sharking
- One count of acting as a finance lender or broker without a license
- One count of fraud in connection with a loan
She also faces a special allegation of committing an aggravated white-collar crime with a loss in excess of $500,000, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Following a preliminary hearing held last Thursday before Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle in Santa Barbara, Macareno was ordered to stand trial.
She is scheduled to return to court next Tuesday for arraignment.