Man charged with killing his mother

Mary Anne Rolnick, 76, found dead in Sutton Lakes home, police say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 52-year-old son of the woman found dead Tuesday afternoon in her Sandalwood home has been charged with murder, Jacksonville police announced Wednesday.

Homicide Lt. Steve Gallaher said 76-year-old Mary Anne Rolnick was found in her bedroom dead of apparent stab wounds and strangulation at her home on Willesdon Drive West, in the Sutton Lakes neighborhood off Atlantic Boulevard.

RELATED: Foul play involved in death of elderly Sandalwood woman, police say

Investigators said her son, Scott Rolnick, who had been evicted earlier this year after stealing from his mother, smashed through the patio doors Monday night and attacked her.

The woman's grandson found her body after going there to check on her.  Police said a knife was found at the scene. 

Gallaher said Scott Rolnick was unemployed and addicted to drugs. 

Scott Rolnick was taken into custody Tuesday night at a gas station on Powers Avenue. He was in his mother’s stolen Cadillac, along with a friend, 32-year-old Margaret Talbert.

Though Scott Rolnick was covered in blood, police said, Talbert didn’t know what he had done. She is charged only with possession of cocaine and drugs without a prescription. 

Scott Rolnick was arrested on charges of murder and auto theft. He was booked into the Duval County Jail, and ordered held without bond. He has prior arrests for possession of marijuana and prescription drugs. 

News4Jax found that police had responded to domestic disturbances at the home twice in the past two two years.

Neighbors told News4Jax on Wednesday that they would often see Scott Rolnick barbecuing in his mother's backyard. Neighbors described her son as a loud know-it-all who was always causing a scene. 

"He's a crazy guy," said one next-door neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. "He shouts all the time. He's on the phone and uses bad language."

Mary Anne Rolnick was a real estate agent. Her Facebook page is filled with praise from people who she has helped buy and sell property. Her neighbors said they were saddened by her death and concerned when they learned of her son's arrest. 

"It does concern me and I'm in shock because I had no idea when I left my home in the morning. It was really quiet," the next-door neighbor said. "But what happened inside, we had no idea."

Scott Rolnick will be back in court on June 28.Â