Boyfriend Suspected in Woman’s Strangling

Police wanted Marsha Rockvam to go to a women’s shelter after her boyfriend broke into her downtown motel room Friday night. She refused, saying he would not harm her.

Next morning, police found the 45-year-old Ventura woman strangled in her bed.

Her boyfriend, Tommy Ray Welch, 42, of Ventura, was being held without bail Sunday in Ventura County Jail on a parole violation and is the prime suspect, according to Police Lt. Don Arth.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., the operators of the Ventura Inn, 487 E. Main St., called police because they were concerned about Rockvam’s well-being.

Hotel staff tried to open the door, but discovered that furniture had been used to barricade the room, Arth said.

Officers arrived and tried to rouse the woman from her fourth-floor room, but there was no response. Police eventually made entry and discovered Rockvam’s body on the bed.

At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, officers received a call about an injured man in the 100 block of West Santa Clara Street, near Ventura Avenue.

They found Welch bleeding from apparent self-inflicted cuts to his wrists, Arth said.

After being treated at Ventura County Medical Center, Welch was booked without bail into County Jail on a parole violation. Arth did not say what the violation was. Welch was placed on suicide watch at the jail.

On Friday about 9 p.m., Rockvam had called police after Welch allegedly had forced his way into her room and they quarreled, Arth said. Welch was gone when officers arrived.

Police tried to persuade Rockvam to go to a local women’s shelter, but she refused, Arth said. Instead, she barricaded herself inside the room, he said.

At that time, officers were ordered to be on the lookout for Welch.

The next morning, when Rockvam did not answer her door, hotel staff called police.

Authorities said Rockvam’s killer may have escaped the room through a window.

An autopsy was performed on Rockvam’s body Sunday morning, and the cause of death was ruled asphyxiation by strangulation, according to officials of the county medical examiner’s office.