The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has formally filed charges against a Rocklin man in the shooting death of his father. Robert Carlo Yandolino, 25, of Rocklin was charged with one count of premeditated murder in the May 14th 2015, shooting, which occurred in Newcastle.
Yandolino was also charged with attempted murder in an attack on a second person during the incident, which took place on the Monte Vista Olive Oil ranch. The second victim, who is reportedly a farmhand at the location, was treated at a local hospital and survived the attack.
Robert Yandolino in a photo released by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and a 2012 image from Facebook.
Murder charges also include an allegation of special circumstance “lying in wait”, which makes the suspect eligible for the death penalty. The decision to seek the death penalty will be made in the future. Yandolino was scheduled to be arraigned on May 18th at Placer County Superior Court.
The victim was identified as Carlo Alexander Yandolino, 58 of Newcastle. He had worked for the past four years on reviving an olive oil business at his Newcastle property. A new olive oil tasting room, located at 455 Main Street in Newcastle, had opened on May 12, and they had planned a grand opening celebration on Sunday, May 17. However, a message posted by his wife on the Monte Vista Ranch Olive Oil Facebook page reads “Due to the tragic death of my beloved husband, Carlo Yandolino, Owner and Producer of Monte Vista Ranch Olive Oil, our Tasting Bar will not open until further notice. Please remember Carlo in your thoughts and prayers. Rebecca”
The suspect was arrested by Placer County Sheriff’s detectives in Rocklin on the same day as the shooting. He had retreated to his apartment across from Whitney High School, resulting in a school lock-down until he was taken into custody at 3 pm. Special Enforcement Teams from the Roseville and Rocklin police department also assisted with the investigation and the arrest.
Robert Yandolino had reportedly moved to the area from Orange County to be closer to a girlfriend and his father, according to a story in the Sacramento Bee. They quoted his mother, Teresa Popovich (who was divorced from Carlo Yandolino) as saying that Robert had spoken to her from jail, saying “I don’t know why I am here. I don’t know what happened.” What motivated the shooting will be under investigation, but Robert Yandolino’s potentially violent tendencies may have been revealed by his arrest, while living in Westminster in Orange County on July 28, 2013, for making threats of violence. Further details of that incident were not available.
Read More:
Sacramento Bee: Mom says Placer slaying suspect wanted to be closer to his dad
CrimeVoice: Newcastle Shooting Suspect Arrested
CrimeVoice staff contributed to this story
