No charges filed in GE shooting death

As of Thursday, no charges had been filed in the shooting death of 73-year-old Alice Rosewsky, the Glen Ellen resident Sheriff’s deputies say was killed by her bedridden husband when she allegedly attacked him with a knife.

Hans Rosewsky, 76, called 9-1-1 on the evening of Sept. 13, shortly before 7 p.m., and reported that he had shot his wife after she attacked him.

When deputies arrived at the Warm Springs Road property, they forced entry into the home and found the woman on the floor beside the bed with a knife beside her body. She had been shot twice.

Her husband was in the bed and a handgun was on the floor. He was not injured. At least two other firearms were reportedly found in the small, 944-square-foot cottage, situated just across Warm Springs Road from the entrance to a subdivision called Jack London Estates.

A resident of the subdivision, who declined to give his name, said he had known Hans Rosewsky for some time, but hadn’t had contact with the man in two decades.

“He was a guy who had a colorful life,” said the neighbor. “He had several motorcycle accidents, got banged up quite a bit. But I haven’t talked to him in 20 years, since he cut off communication.”

The neighbor added that Alice Rosewsky had once worked at Napa State Hospital.

According to Sgt. Shannon McAlvain, with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Investigation unit, the investigation into the shooting is complete and a report is being prepared for the District Attorney’s office, where the ultimate decision will be made as to whether Hans Rosewsky will be charged in the death.

He is presumed to be non-ambulatory, essentially bedridden, and his wife was believed to be his caretaker.

McAlvain said Rosewsky was not left alone in the home after the shooting, has since been moved and is now being cared for.

The Rosewsky home sits on about an acre of land in the delta framed by Graham Creek and Sonoma Creek. The property is dotted with weather beaten sheds, piles of tarp-covered lumber and a few old vehicles. A new, steel door had been installed on the front of the home, apparently since the shooting. No one responded to inquiries.

Jim Hill, pastor of the Glen Ellen Community Church, less than a mile from the home, said Tuesday he was familiar with Hans Rosewsky and once visited him at Sonoma Valley Hospital when he was receiving medical treatment. He explained that Rosewsky was not a member of the church, but that he decided to pay a visit when he heard the man was hospitalized. Pastor Hill said it was clear at the time of that visit, at least two years ago, that Rosewsky appeared not to be ambulatory.

He said he spoke to the man again on the phone about eight months ago, but had not had contact with him since.

A decision from the D.A.’s office on final disposition of the case may not be known for a matter of weeks, said Sgt. McAlvain.

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