Man searched how to reset video surveillance systems after killing his 72-year-old girlfriend and throwing her in the pool: Police

A Florida antheral was arrested months aft helium called 911 to study that helium recovered his girlfriend unresponsive successful her pool.

Michael Rowland, 50, was arrested by the Ocala Police Department connected Monday successful transportation with the decease of his girlfriend, 72-year-old Diane German. According to police, Rowland called 911 connected the greeting of Dec. 28, 2025, aft helium recovered German floating successful her pool astatine her location successful Ocala. She was declared deceased astatine the scene.

As the probe into the fashionable edifice owner's decease advanced, constabulary said they noticed inconsistencies with Rowland's story.

According to an apprehension study obtained by section ABC affiliate WCJB, Rowland claimed he recovered German floating successful the pool and jumped successful to get her out. Police said they recovered h2o passim German's home, which was accordant with his archetypal story.

However, constabulary besides recovered an empty, bedewed telephone lawsuit successful the home's garage. German's telephone was allegedly wrong Rowland's van. But Rowland told constabulary that her telephone had besides been submerged. When they recovered the phone, they said it had nary signs of h2o damage.

A person look astatine German's telephone revealed that each enactment stopped astir 9:30 p.m. the erstwhile night, constabulary said. The apprehension study notes that Rowland was seen connected surveillance cameras arriving astatine her location astir the aforesaid time. After 9:30 p.m., German reportedly stopped responding to messages.

When investigators searched Rowland's phone, they said they recovered an net hunt for however to reset a video surveillance system.

The aesculapian examiner recovered grounds that German had been strangled earlier she ended up successful the water. Her decease was ruled a homicide.

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According to reporting by Ocala-based quality outlet Ocala StarBanner, German owned the fashionable Wolfy's Restaurant aft a agelong vocation successful the edifice and catering businesses. She mislaid her hubby successful 2020 and leaves down 2 big children and a grandchild.

Friends and household told constabulary that she and Rowland had been arguing and were breaking up, according to the apprehension report. Police said Rowland denied that it was true.

Rowland was arrested successful Jacksonville, Florida, connected Monday and charged with second-degree execution and tampering with evidence. He volition beryllium extradited to Marion County to look charges. Court records did not database his adjacent tribunal date.