CA CA - Dr Robert Stonebreaker, 53, Rancho Santa Fe, 16 Jan 2010

[Nandee63]

Who/what is LE?

Law Enforcement

 

[lafeeverte]

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videobeta/281f9b01-1076-47dc-92e7-c0ee87e8a035/Community/Keeping-the-Dream-Alive

 

[bessie]

Thanks for sharing the video, Lefeeverte. Seeing his wife, his precious little son, and the beautiful haven they built for those gorgeous birds, it becomes easy to understand why people have only kind words for him, and why it's difficult to believe that he could have been involved in anything untoward that would have caused his death.

I scoured the web last night reading articles about Dr. Stonebreaker. Normally, when a mysterious death makes the news you find at least a few comments hinting at scandal. I found none, though it was obvious on one site that comments had been deleted.

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

If you want to speculate on a murder and a motive for it.
​

You can speculate it was a car-jacking as another theory based upon speculation and assumptions.
If he was carjacked, and the car-jacker wanted him to drive back to his house perhaps to rob the house also, besides stealing the car.
With his family there, he decided to deliberately crash the vehicle, and afterward made a run for it, and was caught by the car-jacker and beaten to death.

Or perhaps, the car jacker wanna him to park in a isolated place/spot with the intention of killing him, so he crash the car and made an attempt to escape but was caught and murdered.

If it was, then they should have dusted the dashboard for prints, in case the carjacker put there hands on the dash to brace themselves during the crash, and left there prints or any other Forensic evidence.
But perhaps they did just that, and this speculative theory was discounted early on.

We could use a family member here, to help tell us things that only they would know, as far as the investigation, and where it stands to this day.

Its been more then 9 months since this event occurred.
Its hard to tell what the mind set is now of the investigators as far as what they think might have happened.

Until any release of any official LE documents, including the autopsy report i wont speculate anymore tell we know things for sure, as fact.

As an afterthought.
After seeing the video with the family, I am hoping this is determined to be an accident.
I rather have a Love one killed in an accident, then to wonder if some lowlife individual murdered them, and wonder everyday if they will be caught.
​

THE ABOVE ALL MOO AND SPECULATION ON MY PART
NOTHING POSTED AS FACT UNLESS OTHERWISE KNOWN TO BE
​

​

 

[lafeeverte]

That is a good theory that he was being car jacked, although he was driving in the direction away from his home in Encinitas. He was found with jewelry on, and his wallet with him so we know he wasn't robbed. The area he was found in is filled with million dollar homes.

 

[bessie]

I have to agree that for now, a random road rage or carjacking incident is the most likely scenario. LE say Stonebreaker overcompensated for the curve twice. In doing so, it's very possible that he got in the way of an oncoming car. One comment I read last week was written by a local resident who inadvertently cut off a driver one day not far from where Stonebreaker was found. He said the other driver terrorized him and his family for quite a distance, riding his bumper and such, until they arrived at their destination. The other driver followed them, stopped, and told the first man that he was lucky he (other driver) was letting him live. If that's true, it's not hard to believe something similar happened to the vet. He just happened to meet up with an angry fool carrying a blunt instrument in his car.

I still have so many questions, though. Like, when and where was he last seen, and by whom? Where was he supposed to be or thought to have been at the time of the accident? Where was he headed, if not home? Was he actually in the car when it crashed, or was it staged to look like road rage? Were skid marks found along the road before the location where his car went off the road indicating the chase started prior to that point?

Lafeeverte, please continue to post any new developments from your local news. I'll be on the lookout for them, too.

 

[Curious Me]

Thinking about Dr. Stonebreaker. He was a wonderful bird vet and a nice man. The investigation into his death has taken a long time.

LE did not contact the wife to tell her about Dr. Stonebreaker's car wreck, and that he was missing until the next day when he was found dead.

IMO, $3 million in life insurance is not that much when you consider his practice would've brought money in for years to come. His wife was every bit a part of building that business and their Free Flight Bird Sanctuary. I don't see enough motive or any evidence. What else does LE have?

September 27, 2011
http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/09/27/lawsuit-reveals-possible-suspect-in-suspicious-death/

 

[Curious Me]

The insurance companies are waiting for LE to clear up their suspicions. There seems to be no evidence or connection to point to his wife having anything to do with her husband's death. LE keeps saying they need to talk to the wife while this case is over a year and a half old. Insurance companies holding off on paying while LE seems to be clueless.

September 27, 2011 from CBS with video
http://www.cbs8.com/story/15554543/...-life-insurance-surfaces?clienttype=printable

older article 13 mos. ago
http://thecoastnews.com/pages/full_...+of+murdered+vet+tries+to+move+on &id=9459736

 

[bessie]

From what I've read of Dr. Stonebreaker, he was a very good person. Anyone who makes it his life's work to treat and care for animals to the extent that he did with exotic birds is all right by me. I was so frustrated last year when I tried to research this case and came up with so little information. It's a relief to hear that something has stirred it up again.

The affidavit filed in the suit against the insurance company states that the insurance company's decision to withhold payment based on her status as a person of interest, but they've offered no other evidence. So either they didn't perform an investigation of their own, or they did and it turned up clean. I wonder why she can't be ruled out. I'll be interested in hearing more as the case proceeds in federal court.

 

[kathyn2]

There is supposed to be something about this case on the kfmb news tonite at 11 (may 22, 2012). Last I read the wife Pam was under suspicion and the insurance company will not release any funds. Dr. Stonebreaker was my vet and a very good one too and a very helpful one. He really went out of his way to help animals. He was going to come out to my house 45 min away from his home to look at a sick parrot of mine on a Sunday when no one else would bother. Not every vet can take care of a sick parrot. I really feel bad that the police have not been able to find his murderer. I believe he was being chased down that dark winding road and thats probably why he crashed in the first place. Then probably chased on foot to the final resting place. Very sad. I pray the wife had nothing to do with it but for some reason LE suspects her. Someone could have been paid to do this.

 

[bessie]

As of May 22, 2012, this case remained unsolved. Pam Stonebreaker, the wife, was still a POI. The homicide investigator made it clear, however, that she was one of several.

"To the extent that any of my prior emails or other communications stated that Pam was ‘the number one suspect', ‘the only suspect' or words to that effect, that was not correct. Mrs. Stonebreaker has been and is only one among many persons of interest who has not been ruled out as a potential suspect in the death of Dr. Stonebreaker."

Dr. Robert Stonebreaker, 53

The veterinarian's 2008 Porche Carrera

http://www.cbs8.com/story/18599068/...-unsolved-murder-of-north-county-veterinarian

I haven't found any recent updates, but still looking.

ETA: Article from January 2012 discusses wife's right to collect insurance money.

http://thecoastnews.com/2012/01/investigation-into-veterinarians-death-continues/

 

[liz b.]

Wonder where RS was going/coming from that night ?

Also chasing someone down, and breaking their head open sounds ...kind of personal ? Not like a hired killer,who would more likely have shot RS ?

PS is a POI ; was this about the insurance $$$ ? Or did RS have a GF ?

JMO

 

[kau]

Wonder where RS was going/coming from that night ?

Also chasing someone down, and breaking their head open sounds ...kind of personal ? Not like a hired killer,who would more likely have shot RS ?

PS is a POI ; was this about the insurance $$$ ? Or did RS have a GF ?

JMO

It is thought that he was being pursued,and that he climbed over a small retaining wall to get to that driveway...he supposedly climbed up the ravine,through the vegetation...

I think LE knows a whole lot about both of these cases...couple of things, RS died by blunt force trauma to his head...it does not really fit with a hired killer at all, MOO Sounds like it is more personal. MOO Also, RS's wife did not call LE when her husband was not home the next morning ?

Yes, and ran up the road to the driveway to get away. He was heavy set so apparently was caught up to and was murdered. He lay in the driveway while his wife went to her kids game even though her husband never came home the night before, she called the neighbors..yet not LE. She points the fingers elsewhere yet is not talking to the detectives. I don't think he had a GF. Hmmm. Her father is being protrayed in the upcoming movie "50-1" about the racehorse 'mine that bird' Leanard Blach is part owner of the horse. RS wife, PS the POI, is also being protrayed in the movie.
As for insurance money...she called insurance company the next day, if not the same day.:what:

 

[SpicySun]

I'm new to the forum, so sorry if this has been asked...

I noticed (on maps) what appears to be a horse facility on the road next to the one where he was found. Actually, it looks as if it shares a common fence or border with the home where he was killed. If the location I'm getting on my search is correct. Could he have been there? Considering the in-laws link to racing, it seems like an idea that needs to be looked at closer. Could he have been lured there?

 

[neverletgo]

Welcome to Websleuths, SpicySun!

:wagon:

Thanks for your post on Robert's thread.

:gthanks:

 

[Curious Me]

I still wonder what happened to Dr. Stonebreaker. Couldn't find any recent news, but I'm posting old articles in his memory. Wonder if the investigation will conclude with some logical answers.

2010 "Is local veterinarian's death more than just a traffic accident?"
http://www.examiner.com/article/is-local-veterinarian-s-death-more-than-just-a-traffic-accident

"Investigation into veterinarian’s death continues"
Jan 13, 2012
http://thecoastnews.com/2012/01/investigation-into-veterinarians-death-continues/

 

[bessie]

I got so excited when I saw a post here. I thought there might be an update. Yeah, this case really lingers with me. It's been three-and-a-half years now, and still nothing. I wonder if his widow was ever cleared, or if there are any new poi's.

 

[buffetoflies]

Dang, Rancho Santa Fe is a very affluent area. Going to read up on this one.

 

[kau]

https://ecf.casd.uscourts.gov/doc1/03718038294

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Plaintiff Pamela Stonebreaker and Defendant The
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America have settled. Plaintiff anticipates signing
settlement documents, including a joint dismissal of the entire case with prejudice in the
very near future.
DATED: July 24, 2013 MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
By: s/ Nathan S. Arrington
Nathan S. Arrington
Attorneys for Plaintiff Pamela Stonebreaker

She got her 3 million after insurance interplead the money, sold the porsche, sold the vet practice, leased the building, and wanted more money:liar: for 'bad faith' and apparently settled.
Still not talking to the detectives since three weeks after the murder which might mean she is still not cleared:twocents:
Not sure what it's going to take to solve this. Reward money? Ya probably lured there, saw what was coming and ran, a big guy and didn't run fast enough? This case haunts me,:banghead: too, lingering? or are the detectives waiting for a solid case? Curious indeed.

 

[bessie]

Oh, noooo... She got rid of the practice, too??!!

That's very sad.