Santa Rosa man convicted of taking skull represents himself in attempted murder case

A Santa Rosa man, sentenced two years ago for removing the skull of a man found dead at a home on Hendley Street, is defending himself in an unrelated attempted murder case that went to trial Wednesday in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Robert Melvin Ross III, 27, is accused of stabbing a victim early Dec. 8, 2022 at Bethlehem Towers, a Santa Rosa apartment complex for low-income seniors.

It happened a year after Ross was placed on mandatory supervision following his conviction for possession of a memento from human remains.

He carried the skull of Robert Enger, who had died sometime before his body was found in the Hendley Street home where Ross had been squatting.

In the latest case, Ross is accused of stabbing Matthew Barnes, 66 in his throat. Barnes, who survived the stabbing, was discovered in the lobby by Bethlehem staffers who dialed 911.

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office charged Ross with attempted murder, robbery, cruelty to an elder and mayhem. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains jailed.

A jury of four women and eight men heard opening statements Wednesday from Deputy District Attorney Jason Rifkind, who summarized the circumstances, evidence and witnesses in the case.

Ross did not give an opening statement and did not question the prosecution’s first witness a Bethlehem staffer and surveillance camera operator .

A Santa Rosa police officer testified and Ross asked one routine question about his duties and responsibilities.

Barnes was the fourth to testify and Ross slowly read questions about the victim’s testimony from an Aug. 23 preliminary hearing. This included whether Barnes remembered identifying Ross as the man who attacked him.

Barnes said he either didn’t remember what he said or couldn’t understand Ross’ questions.

“I have a hard time hearing, man,” Barnes told Ross in response to at least two questions.

Testimony also moved slow when Rifkind questioned Barnes, who often said he didn’t understand what the prosecutor meant and grew frustrated after repeating himself.

On several occasions, Judge Dana Simonds interjected to help Barnes understand questions and to tell everyone to speak slowly.

At one point, Rifkind asked if Barnes felt stressed. The victim replied “Stressed from the court, someone tried to kill me.”

Circumstances of the stabbing are summarized in a trial brief prosecutors filed Jan. 17 in the attempted murder case.

Barnes was friends with a homeless woman, Masha Belova-Uri, who sometimes stayed over at Bethlehem Towers.

On Dec. 7, 2022, she brought Ross, who was also homeless and wanted to shower.

All three were at Barnes’ apartment about 11:40 p.m. so Ross could shower. Afterward, Barnes testified, Ross rummaged through his National Geographic magazines looking for money and they argued.

“I said ‘What the hell you think you’re doing?’” Barnes testified Wednesday.

They wrestled for several minutes and Ross is accused of using an 8-inch chef’s knife to slash Barnes, leaving him with a 6-centimeter horizontal slash across his neck.

It took four to six weeks to heal and Barnes said he now suffers from PTSD.

Ross is suspected of leaving the apartment with Barnes’ laptop and clothing just before 12:30 a.m. the day after the incident. He covered himself in a white sheet, which police later found nearby. It had blood on it.

“Law enforcement’s search of the victim’s bedroom found numerous pillows, towels, paper towels, toilet paper and other items soiled with blood. However, the bed in Mr. Barnes’ bedroom was missing its sheet,” prosecutors wrote in the trial brief.

Belova-Uri also left but returned twice later that morning. She is expected to testify in the trial.

On Dec. 11, 2022, Ross was arrested on suspicion of carjacking in the 3300 block of Santa Rosa Avenue, just south of the Santa Rosa city limits.

Ross had three knives when he was arrested, according to the trial brief.

He denied any involvement in the stabbing and pleaded not guilty to the charges in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Ross attended a preliminary hearing on Aug. 23 and Judge Karlene Navarro ordered him to stand trial.

As court wrapped up Wednesday afternoon, Ross told Simonds he had four more pages of questions for Barnes. The judge asked Barnes to return Thursday to finish testimony.

“Wow,” he replied.

In response, Simonds said, “Well, you’re the star of this show.”

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi