WALNUT CREEK — Tragedy struck at a small normally quiet condominium community in the predawn hours of November 8. A son was placed under arrest at Unit 4 on suspicion of murdering his elderly mother.
Someone phoned 911 to report what turned out to be a fatal stabbing incident. First responders located the victim, who had been attacked and brutally stabbed inside her one-bedroom home.
Authorities received the call shortly after 5 a.m., seeking help for a woman bleeding from stab wounds. Officers responded to a condominium complex located at 2650 Jones Road.
First aid was being administered to 74-year-old Darlene Roth, when officers arrived on the scene. She suffered severe stab wounds and was quickly transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead soon afterward.
Investigating officers determined the suspect in this fatal stabbing is the victim’s son. In fact, he was still at the crime scene when officers arrived there.
The suspect who is 39-year-old Nicholas A. Roth was arrested at his mother’s residence at 6:05 a.m.
Roth was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he was booked for PC 187 on suspicion of murder. He remains behind bars in custody in lieu of $1 million bond.
The investigation of this tragic incident is ongoing. Anyone with information can call Walnut Creek police detective Kim Gerstner at 925-256-3578, or email Gerstner@walnutcreekpd.com
