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Detectives seek clues in unsolved murder of North County veterinarian

For more than two years, the murder mystery surrounding the death of a prominent, North County veterinarian has gone unsolved.

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. (CBS 8) - For more than two years, the murder mystery surrounding the death of a prominent, North County veterinarian has gone unsolved.

Homicide detectives recently released an evidence photo of the victim's car, hoping it will lead to a break in the case.

The photo shows the 2008 Porsche Carrera that Dr. Robert Stonebreaker was driving on the night he was murdered, January 16, 2010.

"The Porsche belonged to Robert Stonebreaker and it shows the damage that the vehicle sustained as the result of a collision," said San Diego Sheriff's Homicide Sgt. Dave Martinez.

Exactly why the 53-year-old veterinarian was out driving on that Saturday night remains a mystery. California Highway Patrol officers found the Porsche in a ditch off the 6700 block of Paseo Delicias in Rancho Santa Fe.

Dr. Stonebreaker, a resident of Encinitas, was not inside the vehicle and officers towed away the Porsche that night.

"They checked the whole area and there was no sign of any blood, there was no sign of anything to indicate that the driver had any serious trauma," said CHP Sgt. Lewis Hall at the time of the crash.

The next morning, a neighbor came outside to find Stonebreaker's body lying in a nearby driveway. The cause of death was a blow to the back of the head, according to the medical examiner.

Detectives believe the doctor may have walked or ran about 100 yards up the driveway to the spot where his body was discovered. That driveway was gated but if Stonebreaker was being chased, he may have climbed a side fence looking for help.

Dr. Stonebreaker had a wife, three children and close to $3 million in life insurance.

"It's been my experience, in the majority of homicides that I've investigated, the suspect knows the victim," said Sgt. Martinez.

After filing a pair of lawsuits against the life insurance companies, the victim's widow, Pamela Stonebreaker, has collected about $400,000.

"That's a lot of money but it doesn't say she did it. We just can't rule (anybody) out right now," said Sgt. Martinez.

Pamela Stonebreaker has denied any role in her husband's murder.

Her attorney, Nathan Arrington, forwarded News 8 an October 2011 email from the lead homicide detective, Sgt. Scott Enyeart, stating the following:

"To the extent that any of my prior emails or other communications stated that Pam was ‘the number one suspect', ‘the only suspect' or words to that effect, that was not correct. Mrs. Stonebreaker has been and is only one among many persons of interest who has not been ruled out as a potential suspect in the death of Dr. Stonebreaker."

San Diego Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Dr. Stonebreaker's brother and sister-in-law are trying to increase that reward fund by collecting donations through the following bank account:

Robert Stonebreaker Reward Fund
c/o Certified Federal Credit Union
5601 E. Washington Blvd.
City of Commerce, CA 90040
(323) 859-2250

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