FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale man who shot his mother to death, tried to clean blood out of the house and then went on a beer run was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to first-degree murder.
Scott Aaron Rocha, 37, changed his plea from not guilty before a trial set for October, downgrading the charge from capital murder, which can be punished by the death penalty. His life sentence doesn't rule out parole, but prosecuting attorney Matt Durrett said an early release wouldn't happen without a governor's commutation.
"He's going to die in prison," Durrett said, adding he agreed to the plea bargain because the victim's family was "satisfied" with the outcome. "Obviously they're in a terrible spot."
The body of Rocha's mother, Frances Idell Rocha, 65, was found in the garage of their residence at 3547 Loblolly Place in the early morning hours March 8, 2014, according to the arrest report.
During questioning, Rocha admitted shooting his mother and said he intended to kill himself, according to the report. He told police he tried to dispose of the body but couldn't get it in the car, and he walked to a liquor store for more beer after the shooting, according to the report.
A Swiffer mop soaked in blood was found in the kitchen, and it appeared Rocha tried to clean up after the shooting, according to police records.
Rocha told police he argued with his mother when she came home and at first claimed he accidentally shot her. He later admitted to a detective he intended to kill his mother and then himself, according to the report.
Officers went to the house at 12:48 a.m. after James Allen, a friend of Scott Rocha, reported a possible suicide. Allen told police Rocha called him and threatened to end it all, according to the report. After talking for about an hour, the call ended. Allen told police he called back, and Rocha did not answer, so he called them.
Rocha pleaded not guilty in April 2014 and later filed motions challenging the constitutionality of Arkansas' death penalty.
Durrett said he hadn't decided whether to seek the death penalty and had told Rocha's attorneys he was open to a plea deal for life in prison.
State Desk on 07/03/2015