Murder Suspect Inquired About Husband’s Life Insurance
By Marc Benjamin, The Fresno Bee | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Detectives say she was arrested because of "inconsistent statements that did not match with evidence at the scene."
On the night of the shooting, she told detectives she heard a noise about
She said her husband ordered her to lock herself in a bathroom and got his handgun so he could check the noise.
But Fresno County sheriff's detectives said they don't believe her story.
In the days after the shooting, a witness told investigators that
"
The witness then told detectives that
A Kingsburg police sergeant told detectives he did not find a firearm in the home or back yard. He also said he could not determine where the shooting occurred inside the home, the affidavit said.
During a search the following day, detectives discovered a revolver in an outdoor trash can with five expended shell casings, the affidavit said. Also, one expended bullet was found on the living room floor, according to detectives.
"It was also discovered during the search that a segment of living room carpet had been cleaned in front of the couch where
An autopsy by the Fresno County Coroner's Office said
A preliminary hearing, which will determine if the case goes to trial, is scheduled for Tuesday in
It's unusual that a case is scheduled for preliminary hearing within a month of an arrest, but
"I have a client sitting in jail who can't properly grieve the loss of her husband of 25 years and be back with her son," he said.
The couple's 15-year-old son was at a school event the night of the shooting, detectives said.
Alvarez said the evidence against his client is circumstantial.
He said detectives might have mistaken what they determined was carpet cleaning with
The insurance inquiry was made because
"It was a sensitive topic with him, and she didn't want to upset him," Alvarez said.
Neighbors and family said there was no recent discord between the couple, no history of domestic violence and no motive, Alvarez said.
"There was a third party in the house," Alvarez said. "The
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