The adopted daughter of a slain 90-year-old woman in El Cerrito is being considered a suspect in her murder and police on Wednesday asked for the public's help in finding her.
El Cerrito police said 50-year-old Alicia Osibin — or Lisa as she known — is being considered a suspect in a murder based on concealed human remains that were found in her former residence on Dec. 2, police said.
On Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, relatives said they could not reach the victim, identified as Mary Osibin. So police initially began investigating reports that she was missing.
The investigation led to a home on the 1000 block of Leneve Place, where a search done by various local law enforcement agencies yielded the discovery of human remains stored in a garbage barrel in the garage, police said.
An autopsy conducted by the Contra Costa County coroner's office determined that the remains were Mary Osibin's and the cause of her death was multiple gunshot wounds, according to police.
Investigators believe the crime occurred several months ago, police said.
Neighbors say Alicia Osibin took care of her widowed adoptive mother at the house where they had lived for decades — where police ultimately found Mary Osibin's remains.
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Alicia Osibin hasn't been seen since August and police are uncertain of her current whereabouts.
"I believe a few months ago I saw her and she said to call her for anything, but somehow I couldn't reach her," said neighbor Tinley Gyatso.
The suspect also made comments to neighbors about traveling to Arizona or Southern California before her disappearance, police said, so they simply thought the duo had moved away — at least temporarily.
"There was no reason to suspect anything," neighbor Dick Patterson confirmed. "She said she was taking a job in Arizona and we figured her mother went with her."
Police describe Osibin as a heavy-set woman who stands at 5 feet 8 inches tall and is known to dress in traditionally masculine attire.
Osibin previously worked in the cleaning industry and may be still working in that capacity, police said. She is also known to use rented vehicles.
"Something for people to think about is that she rented cars for months at a time," said El Cerrito Police Captain Paul Keith. "If you think you see her and she's driving a rental that could fit the profile for our suspect."
Police are asking the public to not to approach the suspect, as she could be armed. Anyone who sees Osibin or has information about her whereabouts is asked to call El Cerrito police at (510) 215-4400 or (510) 233-1234 after hours.
