Crime & Safety
No 'Love' - Just 'Rage' - in Rohnert Park Homicide, Says Dad of Stabbing Victim
The murdered man was a Costco co-worker of the girlfriend of his alleged killer. "The act was hideous," said the father, after today's arraignment of Daniel Dieters, 25.
A Rohnert Park man was charged in Sonoma County Superior Court this morning with the stabbing murder of another man during what police say was a dispute about a woman both men knew.
Daniel Dieters, 25, did not enter a plea to the murder of Roy Kauwe, 22, in Kauwe's Rohnert Park apartment on Thursday.
He is being held in the Sonoma County jail under no bail. Entry of plea and a bail review hearing are scheduled for April 15.
Rohnert Park Public Safety Department Sgt. Jeff Justice said Dieters called police around 11:10 p.m. on March 20 and said he had just killed his friend at the Edgewood Apartments in the 400 block of Laguna Drive.
Police contacted Dieters in the parking lot of the apartment complex when they arrived, then found Kauwe's body in the apartment, Justice said.
Kauwe suffered multiple stab wounds in the neck area, and a knife was found near his body, Justice said.
A 23-year-old woman who was associated with Dieters and Kauwe also was found outside the apartment, Justice said.
She told police she arrived at Kauwe's apartment just before Dieters called 911.
Justice said the murder occurred during a dispute regarding a relationship both men both had with the woman.
He said Dieters lived with the woman and had a relationship with her for several years.
After Dieters' arraignment this morning, Joe Kauwe, the victim's father, disputed the characterization of the slaying as a love triangle murder.
He said his son and the 23-year-old woman were friends and both worked at Costco in Rohnert Park, but that his son was trying to be transferred to a Costco store in Hawaii.
"This is a crime of jealousy. The girl was going with this person (Dieters) seven years. He (Dieters) went into a rage. The act was hideous," Kauwe said.
Kauwe said his son was 5 feet 9 inches and was slightly built. Dieters is stocky and much taller.
"He didn't have a chance. He would not have argued with anybody. He's an incredibly peaceful person," Kauwe said about his son.
Kauwe said his son worked at Costco for about a year in the deli and bakery departments and recently got an apartment.
Kauwe said he doesn't know how his son knew Dieters. He said his son's car broke down and his daughter drove his son and the 23-year-old woman to his son's apartment.
Rohnert Park police said Dieters lived in an apartment on the same street.
Joe Kauwe and his girlfriend said this morning they are wondering if Dieters saw them arrive and became jealous.
Dieters' family members were present in court this morning but they left before they could be asked to comment.
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