Mother’s Arraignment Postponed

Socorro “Cora” Caro appeared in a wheelchair in Ventura County Superior Court on Friday to answer multiple murder charges that could bring the death penalty in the shooting deaths of her three oldest sons.

But the arraignment was postponed for three weeks after Encino defense attorney Richard Plotin said he has seen no reports of the shootings and was not prepared to allow his client to enter a plea.

As her lawyer spoke, Caro, her dark hair cropped short, revealing a 9-inch scar from brain surgery, nervously eyed a phalanx of news cameras recording her first appearance in public since the Nov. 22 shootings at the family’s upscale Santa Rosa Valley home.

The boys’ father, Dr. Xavier Caro, a well-known rheumatologist affiliated with Northridge Hospital Medical Center, returned home that night to find three of his four children dead and his wife on the floor of the master bedroom, bleeding from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in the head, authorities said.

Cora Caro, 42, was arrested on suspicion of murder and on Friday morning was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and allegations that she used a gun during the slaying.

Deputy Dist. Atty. James Ellison said his office has also filed a special circumstance allegation accusing Caro of multiple murders of the three boys, ages 5, 8 and 11. The allegation makes Caro eligible for the death penalty.

Still, Ellison said his office has not yet decided to seek the death penalty and won’t “for some time.”

“The importance of a special circumstance allegation is to put the defendant on notice that this is a potential death penalty case,” Ellison said.

He declined to discuss any specifics of the case. Asked how the slayings have affected the boys’ father, who was not at the hearing, Ellison said: “It’s been a very traumatic experience for him.”

After the hearing, Plotin said his client is “totally devastated” by the charges now pending against her.

“She was informed of the charges yesterday,” he said, standing outside the Ventura Hall of Justice.

He said Caro--who after the slayings was described by neighbors and friends as a caring mother who was very involved in her children’s lives--has not given a statement to authorities. She is only talking to her lawyers and family members, he said, but even those communications appear to be difficult.

“It is such an incredible family tragedy,” Plotin said. “She is unable to communicate thoughts and feelings.”

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Plotin said he has not talked to his client about the events of Nov. 22, and is waiting to review documents in the case.

Xavier Caro filed a wrongful death lawsuit this week that states he and his wife “had an argument over a trivial matter” on the night of the slayings.

He then went to his office, and when he returned home, he found his wounded wife in the master bedroom and his children dead in their beds, according to the lawsuit.

Xavier Caro is now living in a hotel with his surviving son, 16-month-old Gabriel. He is seeking a divorce and sole custody of the child.

Meanwhile, a court fight is brewing over the couple’s community property. On Thursday, Cora Caro’s lawyers went to family court to ask a judge to award $550,000 from family assets to pay for her legal defense.

Agoura Hills attorney Rand Pinsky told the judge that the couple’s five-bedroom home has between $600,000 and $800,000 in equity. He asked the judge to allow his client to tap those and other funds to secure a $250,000 loan to pay Plotin.

Judge John Smiley rejected the initial request, saying he needed additional information about the couple’s financial situation and set a hearing for next month.

Outside court Friday, Plotin said his client is in a difficult situation. She has too much money to qualify for a public defender but is entitled to a criminal defense.

In addition, Plotin said a second lawyer may need to join the defense team if prosecutors decide to seek the death penalty.

For the time being, however, Plotin said he plans to serve alone as Caro’s defense lawyer. He said he expects his client to enter a plea at the Jan. 11 arraignment, and intends to ask the judge to set a date for a preliminary hearing.