Lompoc woman admits to killing elderly neighbor

LOMPOC, Calif. - A Lompoc woman accused of killing her elderly neighbor in June 2019 pleaded guilty to second degree murder charges Tuesday.

Melissa Martin appeared in court Tuesday and admitted to killing 74-year-old Eldri Jauch two years ago.

Martin was arrested in June 2019 after Jauch was found dead inside Martin's home. Jauch had previously been reported missing under suspicious circumstances.

Police said Jauch was just being a good neighbor when she knocked on Martin's door the night of her death. In her first court appearances, prosecutors alleged that Martin brutally killed her elderly neighbor with a baseball bat. Martin posted a disturbing video on Facebook shortly after Jauch was killed.

Martin had previous run-ins with law enforcement and was even arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs in Santa Ynez. That arrest came after Martin is believed to have killed Jauch. Martin even created a fundraiser to pay for a "financial crisis" she was experiencing after her drug arrest.

Those who knew Eldri Jauch described her as a victim advocate who stood up for the underdog. On the night of her death, Jauch and a group she volunteered with received a proclamation from Mayor Janelle Osborn. She was returning from a city council meeting when police say she decided to check on her neighbor due to concern for her well-being.

Police described the scene of her death as brutal, with one longtime investigator describing the crime as one of the worst homicides he's ever had to investigate.

Martin is due back in court for sentencing on Aug. 31. She is expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.