Update: Carlsbad Mother Died From Strangulation

Updated at 11:09 a.m. with additional details.

The ex-boyfriend of a Carlsbad woman whose body was found in the San Diego County backcountry Friday night will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of kidnapping and murder. 

Michael David Robles, 43, of Fallbrook was arrested in the death of Kathleen Cary Scharbarth, 34, authorities said. According to the Medical Examiner’s Office, Scharbarth died of strangulation.

Scharbarth, who had a restraining order against Robles, was last seen Wednesday night near her home in the 3100 block of Via Puerta, east of Melrose Drive, according to Carlsbad police. The restraining order was filed Nov. 17.

Robles, picked up Friday, was denied bail and booked into the Vista Detention Facility, pending arraignment scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Detectives searched the homes of Robles—he lives on Baja Vista Drive—and Scharbarth, but whatever evidence might have been recovered was not disclosed. Several agencies were involved in the investigation, including the state Department of Justice.

Scharbarth’s cousin, Robert “Bear” Scharbarth of Leucadia, told the San Diego Union-Tribune his cousin was “always open-hearted to everyone.”

He said she is survived by her daughter, Madison, 13, her parents, Ryan and Virginia Scharbarth, her brother, Michael, and sister, Melissa.

Scharbarth graduated from San Dieguito Academy high school in Encinitas and owned a furniture importing company called Ardanas.

Scharbarth’s current boyfriend had left her home late Wednesday night, then returned on Thanksgiving morning, Scharbarth’s birthday, to have breakfast together, according to broadcast reports. He reportedly found the door to her house open and her 13-year-old daughter asleep inside, then called police to report Scharbarth missing.

Scharbarth’s father said she planned to join the family for Thanksgiving.

—City News Service