FALLBROOK: Man sought in killing of elderly woman

Adult granddaughter already in custody

By North County Times | Thursday, September 4, 2008 7:03 PM PDT ∞

Police are looking for Jeff Nolen, a 38-year-old tow truck driver, who may be driving a sage green 2000 Mercury Mountaineer with the license plate 5TOX730. (Courtesy photo)

FALLBROOK ---- A Fallbrook man is wanted in connection with the killing of his girlfriend's 74-year-old grandmother, who was found dead in her Potter Street apartment shortly after midnight Thursday, officials said.

Jeff Nolen, a 38-year-old tow truck driver, may be driving a sage green 2000 Mercury Mountaineer with California license plate 5TOX730, sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said.

Investigators have arrested Nolen's girlfriend, also the victim's granddaughter, 32-year-old Amy Jo Mitchell of Fallbrook, Brugos said.

Investigators believe the victim, whose name has not yet been released, was killed in her first-floor apartment Aug. 29.

It's possible the woman was killed because of a dispute over Nolen and Mitchell's children, who were her three great-grandchildren, Brugos said. The children are being cared for by Child Protective Services, he said.

Brugos said investigators identified one obvious injury suffered by the victim, but declined to state what that injury was or if there was any information about a possible weapon.

Apartment manager Deena Fotion said she was relieved to learn from investigators that the killing was not the work of someone likely to target other people.

Fotion, who has run the complex for nearly two years, said she was familiar with the woman who was killed and called her death a tragedy.

"She was such a nice, nice lady," Fotion said. "She had a good sense of humor; she was cute."

Fotion said the complex was quiet, one of the nicest in Fallbrook, and that nothing serious had ever happened there before.

"I'm just relieved we don't have a serial killer," she said.

This is the third homicide this year in Fallbrook, which is home to about 40,000 people.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Nolen. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-TIPS.

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Gringo wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:43 AM:There are gangs all over that area. Social security checks just arrived in the mail a few days ago. Elderly living alone easy target.

totally surprised wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:07 PM:I just moved out of those apartments a few days ago, it was a nice area to live in. I would have never thought that something like this would happend

Wish wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:31 PM:Wish I could sell my house here! The first chance I get I'm gone!

Hard to believe wrote on Sep 4, 2008 3:31 PM:He looks like such an upstanding, responsible, contributing member of society from the picture in the story. I guess you can't tell a book by its' cover!

eva wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:53 PM:love that the first comment is always about gangs and illegal aliens. Trash like this could be from any race, religion, rich/poor, etc. Stop profiling.

the town of fallbrook wrote on Sep 4, 2008 5:14 PM:use to be such a nice place to live

from michigan wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:46 PM:I'm sure it's still a nice place to live. 1 person out of 40,000 in fallbrook snapped. Not good, but I think you'll all be o.k. Don't panic.

Ty wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:11 PM:Yeah, use to be such a nice place to live except for the fact that Fallbrook was home to former KKK leader Tom Metzger, Neo Nazis and lots of people who condone their backward type of thinking! Homocides happen everywhere though.

to gringo wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:26 AM:I think this guy went to Mexico, then came back to the U.S. "illegally" and committed a crime against another U.S. citizen! I wonder if the SDMM will protest these kind of monsters in Fallbrook like they do on Saturdays at the church.Oh wait, they're too busy to take care of everyone and everything.Besides, only illegals commit crimes in Fallbrook.

Vista Guy wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:51 AM:He looks like Bagwell(teabag)the freak from the TV show prison break. Wierd

san jacinto person wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:26 PM:This person must have had some serious issues , so sorry but he has a mother sister childern and family so lets not judge to harshly one never knows..... put yourself in their place ok

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