Pair charged in violent robbery of casino winner
FREMONT — A man and his girlfriend have been charged with the violent assault and robbery of a 55-year-old woman who was attacked outside her home Oct. 18 after returning home from a San Jose casino, authorities said.
Police said cooperation from the casino and video surveillance it provided were keys to solving the case.
The suspects, Barry Heisner, 44, and Darlene Marquis, 45, both of Port Costa, were arrested the same day in Pittsburg, driving in a Toyota Camry police believe was used in the robbery.
Heisner has been charged with attempted murder, and robbery and Marquis has been charged with robbery, according to court records. He is being held without bail and she is free on $50,000 bail. Both are due in court Nov. 9 to enter pleas.
Police said the victim’s wallet, ID card, credit cards and purse were recovered at Marquis’ home.
The robbery and assault happened about 1 a.m. Oct. 18 at the front door of the woman’s home in the 40400 block of Citrus Drive.
She was hit in the head several times with a blunt object, believed to be a flashlight, and had her purse taken by a man.
Her husband heard her screaming and chased the robber on foot before the suspect got into the front passenger seat of a tan colored sedan with paper plates that drove off, police said.
The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of severe head injuries but has since been released.
Police said the woman was returning from a San Jose casino where she had won some money. Video obtained from the casino showed a man later identified as Heisner follow- ing her around inside the casino and then into the parking lot where she was seen getting into her vehicle and then being followed by the tan car, police said.
Video from a residence near the woman’s home showed a similar car following the victim and park a few houses away. The man is seen walking to the woman’s driveway and then running back to the vehicle which drove off.
After identifying Heiser with the help of casino security, Fremont police began developing informa- tion on him. They learned Marquis was his girlfriend and that she owned a 1999 tan Toyota Camry that matched the description of the car Heisner was seen getting into.
Probable cause warrants were obtained for their arrests and Fremont SWAT officers arrested them in the car in Pittsburg at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
Police said the suspects are being looked by other police agencies for possible similar robberies.