Roommate Named As Suspect In Elderly Woman's Death

SAN DIEGO -- An autopsy determined Thursday that a North County great-grandmother found dead in her trailer home was strangled, and authorities named her now-absent male roommate as a suspect in her death.

Deputies conducting a welfare check on Mimi Rohwer, 75, early Wednesday morning found her body at the Casitas del Sol Mobile Home Park in San Marcos, sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said.

Rohwer's family had not heard from her since Saturday.

Homicide detectives are searching for migrant worker Julio Cesar Jacobo-Curiel, 57, a suspected illegal alien who lived with the victim and allegedly was seen leaving her home Wednesday in her car, Brugos said.

Rohwer, a high priestess of Wicca, a religion rooted in pagan beliefs, reportedly had been feuding recently with Jacobo-Curiel and a woman who lived near her.

Following news of the woman's death, neighbors told the North County Times she had been fed up with her housemate, whom she had taken in several years ago when he did some work at her home.

They told the newspaper she had asked him to leave repeatedly, but that he had refused. They also said she was angry at a nearby resident who sometimes blocked her driveway and had visitors at all hours.

Neighbors also told 10News that Rohwer was a nice woman who was very active in her community.

The victim's missing vehicle is a red 1996 Toyota Camry, California license No. 3TRH829.