VENTURA COUNTY, CA (TCD) — The 38-year-old plumber faces 33 felony charges and more than 100 special charges for allegedly killing another plumber, poisoning elderly customers for financial gain and robbing a convenience store.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office first charged Rotherie Foster with the murder of Jose Velazquez in January 2023. According to prosecutors, Velazquez was reported missing in July 2022, and hikers found his remains in the Santa Monica Mountains several months later. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
At a press conference held May 22, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said Velasquez and Foster both worked as plumbers and knew each other. Further investigation revealed that Foster “violently and forcibly” stole Velasquez's ATM password and checks for gas, cash, clothing and food. According to Nasarenko, authorities obtained cell phone records and forensic evidence from Foster's van, leading to his initial arrest on charges of first-degree murder, eight counts of identity theft, two counts of forgery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
After subpoenaing the defendant's bank records, investigators reportedly discovered “suspicious” transactions that led to additional alleged crimes and victims.
According to the district attorney's office, investigators believe Foster “used his plumbing business to identify potential targets for his crimes.”
Money from the alleged victim, 72-year-old Bill Levy, was allegedly transferred to Foster's account in January 2022, including checks worth thousands of dollars.
According to Nazarenko, Levy died of natural causes on January 10, 2022, but investigators recently concluded that “Levi actually died from intentional fentanyl poisoning.” The suspicious dealings reportedly began the day after Levy's death, with officials discovering that Foster had performed plumbing work for Levy at his Granada Hills home.
Authorities arrested Foster on May 20 for Levy's murder. Nazarenko said Foster faces additional and special charges, including first-degree murder, murder by theft, forgery, identity theft, grand larceny and intentional lethal injection.
Foster is also accused of committing financial fraud against a customer in Woodland Hills in December 2021 and armed robbery at a Fillmore convenience store in July 2022.
Foster is being held at the Ventura County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 6.
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