LAKEPORT — The only identified suspect in Paul Joseph “Joe” Womachka”s homicide, Morgan Matthew Jack, 32, of Nice was arrested Thursday at 2 p.m. The charge against him is parole violation.
He was booked into the Lake County Sheriff”s Department jail shortly before 3 p.m. The Sheriff”s court information stated his next court date was set for Nov. 29, the same date of his arrest. The Sheriff said Friday he did not know why the court date issued was the same date as that of his arrest.
Also arrested for parole violation at 3 p.m. was Rebecca Molina Jack, 61, of Lakeport. Her next court date is set for Dec. 3.
Sheriff Rodney Mitchell said the arrests are not in connection with the homicide of Womachka. “State parole officials took Morgan and Rebecca Jack into custody for violating terms and conditions of their parole,” Mitchell said.
Womachka was a resident of Nice and father of three, loved by many. He operated a Hey Taxi van in the county. He was last seen shortly after midnight on Wed., June 27, after being hired to drive Jack to his home in the Big Valley Rancheria next to Konocti Vista Casino.
On the 29th of June, deputies responded to the Big Valley Rancheria to investigate a vehicle under water in Clear Lake in the marina adjacent to Konocti Vista Casino. Marine patrol and a dive team recovered the taxi van that afternoon with Womachka”s body in it.
Jack was arrested the same day at Konocti Vista Casino for parole violation. No charges related to Womachka”s murder have been brought against Jack to date. Jack was released from San Quentin as part of a parole plan in late September.
According to a press release from early November, the LCSD requested forensic examination of multiple items of evidence.
In November, LCSD detectives worked with experts from General Motors to recover information from the van”s computer. The press release said the computer may reveal details of when and how the van was driven prior to entering the lake.
On Friday, Lake County Sheriff Rodney Mitchell said, “I am unwilling to release details about the vehicle at this time.”
He added that “the examination of the on-board computer from the van has been completed and we are deeply grateful for the assistance that we received from General Motors. The information that we received is valuable to our investigation.”
He said the Womachka case is still “being worked (sic).”
“We have reason to believe that some tribal residents have information that would help us to conclude this case right now. In spite of that, however, I do believe that the investigation will ultimately result in identifying Mr. Womachka”s killer,” Mitchell said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
