Sacto 9-1-1: Crime Alert: Suspected home-invasion robber sought

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Sacto 9-1-1

The Sacramento Bee's Crime blog is a comprehensive report of crime news, trends and information for your community and beyond.

June 19, 2008

Crime Alert: Suspected home-invasion robber sought

unknown 08-031 061608.jpg Crime Alert officials report that Sacramento Police Department robbery detectives seek any information leading to the identity of a man responsible for a home invasion robbery in the North Natomas area.

According to authorities, at 3:39 p.m. June 1, police officers were called to Duckhorn Drive and Far Niente Way to investigate the robbery.

Police officials report that the victim was inside the residence on the telephone when she heard the beeping from her alarm system, which indicated a door was open. Approximately two minutes later, the suspect approached her with a black semi-automatic handgun and held her at gunpoint, police officials said. During the robbery handguns and small electronics were stolen. The suspect left through the front door and was seen leaving the area in a newer model white four-door luxury car, authorities report.

The suspect is described as age 18 to 25, between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot and weighing between 190 and 200 pounds. The suspect was wearing a purple and black shirt and a headband over his eyes and ears.

For more details about this and other wanted suspects, view the Crime Alert Web site. If you have information about any wanted person or crime, call 1-800-AA-CRIME or (916) 443-HELP.

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Q: What happened to the killer of Martin Fischalek?

A: Robert Doyle Bratton was sentenced on Jan. 3, 1990, to 25 years to life in prison for the slaying of Martin Fischalek, according to Sacramento Superior Court records.

A Sacramento Superior Court on jury on Aug. 18, 1989, convicted Bratton on four murder and robbery charges in the slaying of Fischalek, his 59-year-old neighbor.

Fischalek was beaten and stabbed to death during a robbery in his Vista Avenue home in south Sacramento County.

Bratton was 17 when the crimes occurred Aug. 2, 1988, but was ordered to be tried as an adult because of the nature of the crimes. Although the charges[ included the special circumstances required for a capital-punishment case, Bratton was protected by law from the capital charges faced by an adult.

During the two-week trial, the prosecution painted a picture of a ruthless killer who needed drug money and ended up beating Fischalek with the leg of a wooden chair and slashing his throat with a kitchen knife. The dead man's stereo, wallet and car were taken.

Fischalek's body was found Aug. 4, 1988, by two of his fellow mechanics who went to check on him when he failed to show up for work at the Niello auto dealerships on Arden Way.

Perhaps the most crucial evidence against Bratton was a tape recording of a conversation he had with a man who struck a deal with investigators to tape his meeting with the suspect.

The jury listened to the recorded discussion of details Williamson described as things that could be known only by the killer.

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