Suspect in Murder of Mother of Six Arrested in Texas

The man suspected of murdering an Anaheim mother of six was arrested Wednesday morning in Houston at his parents’ home, authorities said.

Acting on a tip from Orange County sheriff’s investigators, members of the Houston Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team appeared at 6:45 a.m. to arrest Roger Max Keller, Houston Police Sgt. L. W. Winkelmann said.

The 27-year-old Santa Ana plasterer had disappeared after the partially clad body of Lisa Maria Guardiola was discovered on Nov. 14 at the Chapman Road entrance to Irvine Regional Park.

Guardiola, 24, was the mother of three sets of twin children, all under the age of 6. She had been strangled, authorities said.

Keller “was somewhat surprised” by his arrest, Winkelmann said. “It was pretty early in the morning, and everybody was asleep.” Keller, who was unarmed and offered no resistance to arresting officers, is being held at the Houston City Jail pending extradition proceedings, Winkelmann said.

The Houston police sergeant said Keller had not yet indicated whether he will waive extradition to California.

Such proceedings could take as long as three months if Keller fights extradition, Winkelmann said.

Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Richard J. Olson said two investigators from the department were traveling to Houston Wednesday afternoon to interview Keller.

“We didn’t particularly know he’d be going there (to Houston),” Olson said, but “we covered every place where we knew he had relatives.”

Relieved at Capture

Alfredo Guardiola, the victim’s husband, said when he learned of the arrest, “at first it was like a shock, but after a while I felt relieved that he had been captured so that Lisa can rest in peace.”

He said the murder of his wife was a blow to a family already struggling under financial hardship.

Lisa Guardiola had been ill, and he had quit his job as a truck driver to help care for the couple’s children, he said.

He said he had spent Wednesday at various government welfare offices seeking support for his children and looking for a job.

An account for the benefit of the Guardiola children has been established at Security Pacific National Bank, said Chris Davis, assistant manager of the bank’s Cypress office.

Those wishing to contribute to the account can make checks payable to “Children of Lisa Guardiola Trust Fund,” Security Pacific National Bank, 9801 Walker St., Cypress, Calif. 90630, Davis said.

Thanksgiving will be a glum occasion for his family, Guardiola said, despite the support friends and neighbors have given him.

“I think it will be real sad,” he said. “I haven’t had time to explain to the kids about their mother.

“I try to talk to them, but they don’t know what’s going on. Almost every day they cry for their mommy.”