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House Guest Arrested for Forging Dead Mission Hills Woman’s Checks and More

Mission Hills.  Fifty-six-year-old Patricia “Tisha” Rodriguez had only been living in 80-year-old Phyllis Ciocca’s Mission Hills home for about eleven days when Phyllis was found dead on her bedroom floor, November 15, 2013. 

Phyllis’s adult son, who was visiting from Las Vegas, did not suspect anything untoward about his mother’s death, and Phyllis’s doctor agreed to sign the death certificate due to the elderly woman’s history of heart trouble; well, that was not until the house guest, Tisha, told the son his mother had changed her will, naming Tisha as beneficiary. 

Phyllis’s family informed police and the coroner’s office, which called the mortuary to place a hold on the body for autopsy.   Since then, police discovered thousands of dollars in checks written in Phyllis’s name, dated after her death.  Checks were made out to cash, restaurants, manicure salons, and motels.

“We have questioned Tisha Rodriguez,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “Clearly, writing checks, forging Phyllis’s signature on an amendment to the will are illegal, but more sinisterly, call to question, How did Phyllis die?”  The cause and manner of her death remains undetermined.

Detectives are asking the public’s help in developing background history on Patricia “Tisha” Rodriguez as they await the toxicology findings on Phyllis’s remains. 

“We’re interested to know if Tisha has taken up residence with other persons, especially if they were elderly and living alone,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “Tisha’s actions could all just be opportunistic crimes after Phyllis died, or they could be much more sinister and pre-meditated.  We won’t know for sure until the toxicology comes back, but in the meantime, we could have other victims of fraud out there, or worse.”

Detectives discovered a storage facility rented by Rodriguez, and after searching, found prescription bottles in the names of several persons.  Rodriguez has a criminal history that includes burglary, larceny, and illegal sales of prescription medicine.

Rodriguez is currently in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail with bail set at $140,000 for the several forgery and burglary charges she is facing the aftermath of Phyllis Ciocca’s death.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9948.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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