The brother and sister of slain Carlsbad resident Kathleen Cary Scharbarth met with reporters Tuesday afternoon to publicly thank those involved in investigating her disappearance and remember a beloved family member.

Both Michael Scharbarth, 25, and Melissa Scharbarth, 31, became emotional at times at the office of an attorney friend in northern San Diego. Both steadfastly declined to discuss any details of the case or the suspect, a former boyfriend, Michael David Robles, 43, of Fallbrook.

"We're all very devastated," Michael Scharbarth said.

What initially began as a case of a missing person under suspicious circumstances in Carlsbad prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, sparking an intense regional search, ended tragically. The 34-year-old woman's body was discovered Nov. 25 in a remote San Diego County location. Medical examiners have called her death a homicide and say she was strangled.

Robles is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in a Vista courtroom. He remains in county jail in downtown San Diego without bail on suspicion of murder and kidnapping. The victim was last seen alive last Wednesday night near her home on the 3100 block of Via Puerta.

She had recently filed a restraining order against Robles, an ex-boyfriend, and a domestic violence complaint was lodged earlier this month in Vista Superior Court, according to reports.

"This has been an incredibly rough time for all of us," Michael Scharbarth said. "The support the police have shown us from the moment Kathy was missing has really gone a long way."

Both expressed gratitude to all those involved in the investigation and search efforts.

"To everybody who has contributed, who helped look for her, sent text messages, emails, (posted on) Facebook, cards, the amount of support is overwhelming," Melissa Scharbarth said. "My mom keeps saying 'I don't know what else to say, but thank you.'"

Both siblings recalled their sister as personable, trusting and thoughtful Their sister was someone who, on their 16th birthday, urged the family to help feed the homeless, playfully swiped their mother's dessert during a recent girl's weekend in Palm Springs, helped her brother with college essays and frequently embarrassed her daughter by "rocking out" in the car.

"She had that sparkle," Melissa said. "She'd smile and you couldn't help but smile back. She laughs, you laugh with her you can't help but like her.

"I'm very different," Melissa said with self-deprecation, wryly smiling and drawing laughs from assembled media members, a rare light moment in an otherwise somber discussion.
 
The traits her sister displayed were passed along to her daughter, Madison, who is now wearing a sweater from Nordstrom's her aunt originally intended as a birthday gift to Kathleen. Melissa vowed to help raise and support her niece.

"She's strong," Melissa said of her niece. "She misses her mom. She knows she's loved.  She just wants to continue to have her mom's memory carry on."

The family intends to focus on "justice for Kathy" and her daughter's "well-being," Michael said.

Toward that end, a fund to defray counseling, support and educational costs for Madison Scharbarth has been established at California Bank and Trust, he said. The account number is 2300062102 and those with questions may call the bank at (760) 436-5226.

"We lost Kathy not of old age or anything but to murder," he said. "It's come as such a shock, it's a lot to take in at this point."

Memorial services are still pending, they said.