A domestic dispute escalated to the point of no return Tuesday, June 26 when an Orinda man murdered the woman with whom he had been living for a number of years.

The Orinda Police Department and fellow members of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department responded to the home in the 600 block of Moraga Way, a site of several previous domestic disturbance calls. The body of a woman in her early 50s was found in the kitchen area.

Describing the tragic incident as “a domestic dispute between a couple,” Orinda Police Chief Jeffrey Jennings said, “They got into a fight and he killed her.”

Jennings reported that the man suspected of committing the crime, an Orinda resident in his 60s, essentially turned himself in. The suspect allegedly murdered the woman, and then notified a neighbor of what had transpired. That neighbor, who is in his 90s, called police and was subsequently transported to the hospital after falling ill due to the stress of the situation.

Although a number of media outlets identified the victim as the suspect’s “wife,” police did not provide the names of either the suspect or the victim, and would not elaborate on the relationship.

“No one is at large,” Jennings said. “My officers took him into custody.” The weapon, which Jennings did not wish to identify while the investigation was still underway, was also recovered. Unconfirmed reports indicate that a machete was found near the home.

Get Help Now:

If you or someone in your family or neighborhood is a victim of domestic violence, don’t wait. Contact your local police department, or call the Contra Costa County Domestic Violence Crisis Line for help: (888) 215-5555. For more information about preventing or responding to domestic violence, visit the STAND! Web site: www.standagainstdv.org/.