Man Gets 16 Years to Life in Girlfriend’s Stabbing Death

VAN NUYS — A Lancaster man who stabbed his girlfriend to death seven years ago because he claimed she was a vampire trying to steal his powers was sentenced Friday to 16 years to life in prison.

Christopher Michael Roland, 27, who beat a previous conviction in the same case because of an improper jury instruction, could become eligible for parole in three years.

He was sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Hoff.

Roland, a drifter who according prosecutors served 90 days in Los Angeles County jail in 1990 for assaulting his mother, met Roberta Mosenthiem shortly after he befriended her brother.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Peter Korn said Mosenthiem--describing her as a “naive” and “trusting” 18-year-old--accompanied Roland to the Chateau Motel in Van Nuys Feb 12, 1990, to make wedding plans.

But there, according to testimony, Roland slashed the woman’s throat, stabbed her in the chest and placed 12 crystals around her head while dressing her in a black T-shirt with a pentagram design.

Defense attorney Mark E. Montpas contended his client was under the influence of LSD. He also claimed Roland suffered from mental illness.

“Roberta loved animals and she was planning to become a veterinarian and now she will never have that dream,” the victim’s mother wrote in a letter Korn read in open court.

“People need to be reminded that there are people like this,” Korn said. “They are cunning and clever and can attack you from behind when you least expect it.”