Son, wife arrested in shooting death of Santa Rosa man

Sheriff's deputies on Monday arrested a Santa Rosa man who reportedly confessed to shooting and killing his father in front of his mother, who was also arrested for acting as an accessory to the killing.

Cody Molica, 38, allegedly called the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office about 12:30 p.m. on Monday and reported that he had shot and killed his father, 80-year-old Richard Molica. 

The caller also reported to authorities that his mother, 72-year-old Beverly Molica, was at the scene at the time of the shooting.

Deputies were sent to a home in the 4300 block of Stony Point Road to investigate the report and detained Cody Molica outside. Inside the house, authorities found Richard Molica on the floor in the living room "with what appeared to be a gunshot wound."

He died at the scene.

Beverly Molica was not at the house when deputies arrived. She was later found in Vallejo and detained for questioning.

Cody Molica was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for murder and conspiracy, while Beverly Molica was arrested and booked for conspiracy and accessory after the fact.

Both are being held without bail.

The backstory:

During the investigation, authorities discovered that Cody Molica had been arrested on Jan. 21 for elder abuse after he was accused of pushing Richard Molica during an argument, allegedly causing injuries to the older man. 

It was further alleged Cody Molica had threatened to kill his mother, father and himself during the Jan. 21 altercation.

Cody Molica was released from jail the following day on several conditions, including not contacting the victim and not possessing firearms or ammunition, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The Source: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

Santa Rosa