Banning, Calif. – Sam Ato Timaloa, 77, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder and elder abuse, after allegedly attacking his 92-year-old roommate, Attilio Cecchetto, at an assisted living facility in Banning, California. Timaloa is accused of severely injuring Cecchetto, who later succumbed to his injuries.
Incident Details
On May 8, 2023, just before 2 a.m., staff at Banning Health Care called police to report that Timaloa had assaulted Cecchetto, leaving him with severe injuries. When officers arrived, Cecchetto was in critical but stable condition and was rushed to a local trauma hospital. Despite initial signs of improvement, Cecchetto died from his injuries on May 11, about a week after the attack.
Charges Against Timaloa
Timaloa was arrested and charged with one count of attempted murder, battery resulting in serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse resulting in injury, and a parole violation. At the time of the attack, Timaloa was on active parole for a second-degree murder conviction and had a history of criminal convictions, including rape, attempted murder, and domestic violence.
Psychiatric Evaluation Ordered
In a surprising twist, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel ordered Timaloa to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental competency to stand trial. The case has now been transferred to the Riverside Hall of Justice, where another judge will oversee the evaluation and determine if Timaloa should be transferred for mental health treatment at a state hospital. If the court deems Timaloa mentally unfit to stand trial, it could freeze the criminal case and delay legal proceedings.
Potential Murder Charge
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is considering the possibility of adding a murder charge to Timaloa’s case, pending the results of an autopsy on Cecchetto. The police department has stated that they will work with the District Attorney’s Office to decide if a murder charge will be pursued.
Bail and Detention
Timaloa is currently being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on $1 million bail. His next appearance in court is scheduled for later this month.
Victim’s Family
Meanwhile, the family of Attilio Cecchetto has set up a GoFundMe to assist Denyse Cecchetto, Attilio’s widow, who is facing emotional and financial hardship following her husband’s tragic death.
