Arrest made in connection to restaurant owner’s death

The owners of Wolfy’s, Diane German and her son, Anthony Viktora, who took over the eatery on Jan. 2, 2024, pose with two of their signature dishes on Jan. 18, 2024, in Ocala. Diane German died Dec. 28, 2025, and a Jacksonville man has now been charged in connection to her death. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

A 50-year-old man tied to the former co-owner of Wolfy’s Restaurant in Ocala, who was found deceased in her pool in December of 2025, now stands accused in connection with her death.

Michael Rowland, described as German’s boyfriend in an Ocala Police Department press release, was arrested on April 6 by law enforcement in Jacksonville on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

A Jan. 6 “Gazette” article stated that German,72, was found deceased in a residential pool on Dec. 28, 2025, and that OPD was “investigating the circumstances” of her death.  

The arrest affidavit in the case states that Rowland told OPD he met German on a dating site about three years ago and the two were steadily dating for eight or nine months.

According to an April 8 OPD press release regarding Rowland’s arrest, OPD responded at 6:56 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2025, to a 911 call from Rowland about an “unresponsive woman” in a pool.

The arrest affidavit states that Rowland, whose mailing address is listed as the 1400 block of W. 29th Street, Jacksonville, pulled German from the pool before police arrived

“During the investigation, detectives identified inconsistencies in (Rowland’s) statements. Surveillance footage, phone records and other evidence showed Rowland was at German’s home the night before her death. Investigators also found that Rowland had concealed evidence inside his vehicle,” the press release stated.

“A medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, noting evidence of strangulation. No other individuals were identified at the residence during the critical timeframe and no additional suspects have been named,” according to the press release.

German, “deceased seemingly for hours,” was declared deceased by EMS at the scene, according to the arrest affidavit.

“During (a Feb. 20) interview (at OPD) (Rowland) got argumentative, stating we had “fairy tales” in our heads and we only want him to confess to doing something to fit our narrative. He remained adamant he was innocent,” the arrest affidavit states. 

Rowland demonstrated with a training mannequin how he pulled German from the pool, including entering the pool and “placing his left arm around the left side of the mannequin’s neck near the collar bone area and his right arm underneath the right armpit holding the chest area,” according to the description in the arrest affidavit. 

“Rowland explained to (an investigator) that when he found German in the pool and retrieved her from the pool, he also saw her phone on the bottom of the pool with the phone screen on. He went back into the pool and removed the phone. He looked at the screen and saw German was communicating with another male,” the affidavit states.

“Rowland said it was impossible that he and German broke up because there was nothing to break up about and the only arguments they had were because German hated when Rowland would go back to Jacksonville. He stated they never argued about men because she was allowed to see men,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit indicates during a search of Rowland’s vehicle, “(an investigator) located an iPhone, broken and folded to almost 90 degrees, stashed in the driver’s seat cushion, which was torn and had a black jacket pulled over it for concealment. The phone was later confirmed to be Diane German’s.”

“Sgt. Brown told Rowland that the biggest thing sticking out to him is that he was there that night and the rumor has been that German broke things off with him that day. Rowland was adamant that was a lie and they never broke up,” the arrest affidavit states in part.

“In conclusion, there are no other possible suspects on video at Diane’s house from the time Rowland arrived at 2136 to the time he arrives in the morning. Rowland intentionally destroyed evidence and concealed it inside of his van. Then lied about it. German likely broke things off with Rowland confirmed by three people. Diane German was murdered, we have no video evidence of anyone else being at her house while she was alive aside from Michael Rowland,” the arrest affidavit reads in part. 

Rowland made a first court appearance on April 11 and faces arraignment on May 12, according to the State Attorney’s Office of the 5th Judaical Circuit.

As of April 15, Rowland remained in the Marion County Jail on second-degree murder and evidence tampering charges, with no bond amount indicated in online jail records.