Son ordered to stay out of dead woman's residence

A 49-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates man whose mother's body was found on their back porch was ordered Wednesday to stay out of the residence if he is able to bail out of Douglas County Jail on drug charges.

The family of the victim, Jeannette Roybal-Granados, 79, asked that Joseph Roybal not be allowed back in the residence where he had lived with his mother.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl told Roybal if he bails out of jail, he may "only go to the residence with a civil standby from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office to collect some immediate personal effects you may need to get along."

After deputies discovered Roybal-Granados' body early Monday, her son was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful use of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Investigator James Booth said Wednesday an autopsy performed Tuesday by the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office was inconclusive as to cause of death and toxicology reports were pending.

Booth said the autopsy indicated time of death as 24-48 hours before the body was discovered, meaning Granados died between 6 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday,

She was last seen Friday by a neighbor.

EnEarl appointed lawyer Tod Young to represent Roybal on the drug charges. He has not been charged in connection with his mother's death.

Roybal is in Douglas County Jail on $5,500 bail.

His next court appearance is July 28.

He told EnEarl he earned $38,000 as a Douglas County School District head custodian. Prosecutor Erik Levin said he believed Roybal had been placed on unpaid administrative leave.

According to court documents, Roybal called for medical assistance early Monday when he said he found his mother's body on the back porch.

His account of the last time he saw her alive varied from Friday to Sunday night.

He also reportedly told deputies on his way to jail that he had been on a three-day methamphetamine binge.

A family friend who served as caretaker for the victim said she suffered from Alzheimer's disease and wasn't to be left unsupervised.

Originally Roybal told deputies he was getting ready for work Monday morning and he couldn't find his mother in her bed. He said he discovered her on the back porch, thought she was alive but unresponsive, and covered her with a blanket before he called for help.

In later accounts, Roybal said he didn't kill his mother. He said he left the residence Saturday and panicked when he discovered her body on Monday morning.

In one version, Roybal reportedly said he left the residence on Friday and didn't return until Monday morning.