Mental Competency Hearing Scheduled for Sabre Springs Double Murder Suspect

Sabre Springs Double Murder Suspect

A mental competency hearing is scheduled Wednesday for a registered nurse accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife and her male friend after watching them cuddle in her Sabre Springs apartment.

Melchor Marabante, 42, is charged with murdering his 23-year-old wife, Valerie, and her colleague and friend, 26-year-old Bernabe Villamar, last Feb. 20.

After reviewing a doctor's report, a judge could decide today whether the defendant understands the charges against him and is capable of assisting his attorney at trial. If he is found mentally incompetent, Marabante could be sent to a state mental hospital.

Valerie Marabante worked as a registered nurse at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa and Villamar was a licensed vocational nurse at the prison. He had been served with divorce papers three weeks before the killing and his wife had kicked him out of their apartment, according to court testimony.

Retired San Diego police Officer Kenneth Hodges testified at a preliminary hearing in August that Villamar's body was found in the living room and Valerie Marabante's body was found in the garage.

A patio door had been broken out from the outside and a broken tree stake was found nearby, Hodges testified.

Marabante's brother, Philip, testified that his brother told him that he saw his wife and her friend kissing and hugging and then shot them with a gun that his sibling had taken away from him and put in his trunk when the defendant moved in with him.

Philip Marabante said his brother had told him he thought his wife was having an affair with a co-worker.

Stolen Yorkshire

A Valley Center family Tuesday was hoping for the safe return of their 6-year-old teacup Yorkshire terrier Cookie who was stolen from their home along with jewelry and electronics.

Joanne Hansen said her house was robbed Thursday between about 2:30 p.m. when she left home, and when her husband returned to find the front door broken about 3:15 p.m.

Jewelry, electronics and outdoor equipment were taken, but the most valuable thing lost in the heist was the family's 1.6 pound micro-teacup Yorkshire terrier Cookie, Hansen said. The thieves even took the dog's blanket.

Hansen said as her husband arrived he saw a suspicious vehicle speeding from the house. The vehicle was described as a white compact car with red seat covers with a man and women, both in their early 20s, inside.

Hansen also asked anyone with information about Cookie's whereabouts to call her at (619) 743-3823.

Sexual Assault Suspect

A 41-year-old Vista man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting two female customers at the Oceanside tire shop where he worked.

Oceanside police said Jose Ortiz Giron is suspected in two separate assaults that occurred in October and earlier this month at the Olive Tire Shop at 260 block of Airport Road, near Mission Avenue.

The suspect is accused of groping the customers both under and over their clothing while they waited for their vehicles to be serviced, Lt. Leonard Mata said.

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-City News Service