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CARLSBAD: Robbery victim found dead at home
Barbara Novelich lived on her boat at Oceanside Harbor
By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | ∞
Barbara Novelich, 67, was found dead on her boat in Oceanside Harbor a day after a violent robbery at the Carlsbad resort where she worked. (Courtesy photo) CARLSBAD ---- A 67-year-old woman who was assaulted over the weekend during a robbery at the Carlsbad resort where she worked was found dead on her boat in Oceanside a day after the crime, authorities said Tuesday.
On Monday at about 11 a.m., a friend checking on Barbara Novelich found her dead on a bed on the small sailboat where she had lived alone for a few years, according to the friend, 47-year-old Michelle Gill.
On Sunday at about 4 a.m., Novelich had been working as a night clerk at the Tamarack Beach Resort when a man appeared in a room behind the lobby, punched her in the face, demanded money and stole her car, police said.
It was unclear Tuesday whether Novelich died as a result of the injuries she suffered in the robbery. The medical examiner's office conducted an examination, but did not determine a cause of death.
Gill said Novelich's adult son had taken her to Tri-City Medical Center on Sunday morning and that she had been treated for facial injuries and released. The son told her Novelich had been in good spirits at the hospital.
Gill said Novelich also had been treated for heart trouble over the past year.
Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain said Novelich refused to be taken to the hospital following the assault and had been encouraged to seek treatment on her own. He said police had some leads in the search for the suspect.
Novelich described him as a white man in his early 20s about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
The suspect fled in Novelich's 1998 Saturn SLR2 with California license plate 4BPV789.
At the harbor Tuesday, on a quiet dock near the city's Harbor Department, people fondly recalled Novelich. Those who knew her described her as a grandmotherly homemaker who enjoyed reading on the deck of her small boat, tending to her potted plants and going out to dinner with her son once a week.
"I was just really sad to hear it," said Rick Kuehne, who rents a slip on the same dock as Novelich. "She was just a sweet lady who went about her own business."
Closer friends said Novelich's sweetness was limitless.
"She was always doing stuff for other people," said Gill, who also lives on her boat and who met Novelich several years ago. "She didn't have much money or much of anything, but she had a lot of heart and soul."
The friend she knew as "Bobbie" loved combing thrift shops and often bought little gifts for friends or gave away her beautiful sketches, Gill said. Even though she had health problems and had to work a night shift several times a week to make ends meet, Novelich never complained and inspired her friend with her perpetually positive outlook, she said.
Gill said she knew very little about Novelich's past, but she said her friend decided to buy the sailboat and rent a slip on a whim a couple years ago. She loved living on a boat, going for a swim in the morning, listening to jazz and reading. A bit of a recluse because of social anxiety, Novelich recently had told Gill over coffee that she thought she was coming out of her shell a little.
A newer friend, 60-year-old Marie Kashion, said that over the past few months she and Novelich had cheerfully compared notes over their health problems. She said she hoped a violent act didn't cause her friend's death, because it was hard to face that such a gentle person could have died that way.
"Let's hope she wasn't in pain," Kashion said. "I'm so happy she died in her sleep."
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com
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Heart breaking wrote on Nov 18, 2008 8:10 PM:This is awful. Bless her heart. What a tragedy! I will pray for her and that the perp is caught and justice is done!
Jessie wrote on Nov 18, 2008 10:57 PM:This is terrible.....Lets just hope that they catch that animal that ... hit and older woman...R.I.P "BOBBIE WE WILL MISS YOU"
And you will be in our hearts...We will make sure that he pays for this.
yeah wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:21 AM:that thief needs to be caught and prosecuted for murder, my condolences to the family
gone bad wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:44 AM:Carlsbad is going to hell in a hand basket... every week there is news of either a robbery or murder etc...
kj wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:50 PM:how sad i always see her boat with the little black dog on deck it is one of the highlights of our walk in the harbor, RIP
Grump wrote on Nov 19, 2008 5:11 PM:When this lowlife gets caught he should be charged with murder. The 5 o'clock news said her car was a Saturn and gave the plate number but didn't give the color either.
Wendy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 5:52 PM:Aww.....Bobbie!!! We will sure miss you! It always brought a smile to my fave to see you!
Voice wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:16 PM:I ran into her on occasion down at the harbor and have been down to the beach area near the resort. This is truly a tragedy. God only knows what this world is coming to! May she rest in peace; she truly was a sweet lady. I hope they find this creep and that justice will be served!
FTP wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:00 PM:This really sucks, I really was sad after reading about that lady. I hope the Carlsbad Police can catch the criminal - I can't remember the last time Carlsbad PD caught ANYBODY!!
GEEEEZE, this makes me mad.
DW wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:23 AM:I worked with Bobbie about 20 years ago at another hotel/motel. Back then I was the one who was attacked. I'll miss you, my friend
DW wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:00 PM:I worked with bobbie years ago at another motel. she was the BEST!!!
Yippee.... wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:11 PM:her car has been found and the guy driving it was caught. I don't know if he is the monster who attacked her, but I hope he is!
RIP and deep condolences to her family
Lisa wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:35 PM:That's so sad, a sweet lady doing her job, minding her own business and some lowlife scumbag, with no respect for anything has to punch a 67 year old and steal from her. Let's get this loser and let the other jailmates get some of their frustrations out on this scumbag criminal. No sympathy for him.
Scared and Sad wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:30 AM:As an elderly woman with mobility problems, I won't go out alone again. Carlsbad, once a small friendly town has become 'frigid' as folks no longer feel safe or trusting of neighbors. Therefore, they make little effort to even say hello. Life is now "did I double lock the door, turn on the security alarm, test the security camera, turn on the blinding flood lights (sorry neighbors), tuck my newly registered gun beneath the night stand, and so on. Sad. Scared. Miss the good feeling of block mom signs in windows, neighborhood watch signs on every corner, knowing someone at crowded souplantation, or even in line at the PO (miss you Rosie Albrecht!) This Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect and perhaps plan to take extra pieces of pie to a few neighbors, introduce yourself. What can it cost?
to FTP wrote on Nov 22, 2008 6:26 AM:I guess you have to eat your words, Carlsbad PD caught the guy, as they do with most criminals in their city, read the news dude. What is your hidden agenda?
FTM wrote on Nov 24, 2008 5:27 PM:My hidden agenga is to make the residents of Carlsbad aware of the fact that they have crime in thier city that is worse than they know so that they will put up the resources to curb the growing crime rate in Carlsbad fast before it's too late. I want this because i live very close to Carlsbad - so I have selfish reasons.
That - is my hidden agenda.
(I live almost in Carlsbad but i can't vote there and I'm worried about what I see happening in Carlsbad).
I'm worried about Vista even more but Vista does not have a pile of money like Carlsbad does so there is no point beating a dead horse over Vista.
I hope I answered your question.
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