David Hoetzlein Admits to Killing and Dismembering His Mother; Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – On Thursday, David Hoetzlein admitted in court that he had strangled his mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, to death at their Camarillo home in 2022, but he was also found not guilty of the killing by reason of insanity.

Two independent doctors evaluated Hoetzlein and concluded he met the legal status for finding him not guilty of the second-degree murder by reason of insanity and prosecutors did not object to their findings due to the Camarillo man's documented history of mental health issues, additional medical evaluations, and input from the Hoetzlein family detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

"Tomoko Hoetzlein was a devoted mother who did everything in her power to get her son the
mental health treatment he desperately needed," shared Chief Deputy District Attorney Erin Meister.
"Tragically, she lost her life while trying to help him."

On June 3, 2022, deputies were called to the area of Townsite Promenade after a man searching a dumpster for recyclables found human remains.

Detectives and the local Medical Examiner's Office determined the dismembered body parts belonged to Tomoko Hoetzlein who had been stangled and killed before her remains were put into the dumpster stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

David Hoetzlein has a lengthy history of severe mental illness and days before the killing had been released from Vista del Mar as his mother was trying to get him readmitted to the facility -going so far as to write to the hospital, personally contacted his case worker, and reported her son to law enforcement- noted the local prosecutor's office.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, David Hoetzlein will return to court on Aug. 27 of this year where he then be placed into a maximum-security state mental hospital for treatment where he faces confinement for the remainder of his natural life.