Reward offered in assault leading to woman s death

2/11/2009

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information about a robbery in North Toledo during which an 83-year-old woman was assaulted and later died.

Cecelia Sobecki, of 567 Austin St., died about 11 a.m. Sunday in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center of multisystem organ failure caused by complications from trauma during the Friday assault. Her death was ruled a homicide.

According to a police report, a woman forced her way inside Ms. Sobecki s house about 10:50 p.m. The woman demanded money, and when Ms. Sobecki refused, she was pushed to the floor twice, police said.

The woman stole $700, two checkbooks, a bottle of Vicodin painkiller, and Ms. Sobecki s identification card. Ms. Sobecki was able to get herself into a chair in the living room, where she remained until family members found her about 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The suspect was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt at the time of the robbery, police said. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stopper, 419-255-1111.