Springdale Man Pleads Not Guilty To Capital Murder In Mom's Shooting Death

FAYETTEVILLE -- A man Springdale police say shot his mother to death, tried to clean blood out of the house and then went on a beer run pleaded not guilty to capital murder Friday in Washington County Circuit Court.

Scott Aaron Rocha, 36, was given a June 20 trial date that will likely change as the defense and prosecution prepare their cases.

The body of Rocha's mother, Frances Idell Rocha, 65, was found in the garage at 3547 Loblolly Place in the early morning hours March 8, according to the preliminary arrest report. The Rochas both lived at the residence.

During police questioning, Rocha admitted shooting his mother and said he intended to kill himself, according to the report. He told police he tried to dispose of the body but couldn't get it in the car, and he walked to a liquor store for more beer after the shooting, according to the report.

A Swiffer mop soaked in blood was found in the kitchen, and it appeared Rocha tried to clean up after the shooting, according to police records.

Rocha told police he argued with his mother when she came home and found he had been drinking all day, according to records. He told officers he was waving a pistol and it went off accidentally, according to the records.

Officers went to the house at 12:48 a.m. after James Allen, a friend of Scott Rocha, reported a possible suicide. Allen told police Rocha called him and threatened to end it all, according to the report. After talking for about an hour, the call ended. Allen told police he called back, and Rocha did not answer so he called police.

Officers entered the house though an unlocked front door after seeing blood on a chair and the floor, according to records. Rocha came out of a back bedroom and said the blood was his mother's.

Frances Rocha's body had a towel wrapped around her head and a large bullet wound in her skull, according to the report.

Scott Rocha told officers he was going to take his mother to the hospital but realized she was dead, according to the report.

Officers found two cans of beer, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, a silver revolver and bullets in a back room of the house.

Rocha later admitted to a detective he intended to kill his mother then himself, according to the report.

NW News on 04/19/2014

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