A firefighter has been detained after a woman was found dead inside of his North Hollywood home, and authorities confirmed that her death has been ruled a homicide.
Los Angeles Police Department officers reported to the residence after receiving a request for a welfare check at a home on Satsuma Avenue around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, according to Fox 11. Upon their arrival, authorities discovered that the woman was dead.
According to the outlet, authorities knew to go to the home after the suspect, who has been identified as Andrew Jimenez, flagged down a police unit several miles away and told them he was unable to get into contact with his wife.
LAPD sources also shared that the suspect told authorities that he got into an altercation with his wife prior to him not hearing from her, according to NBC4.
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LAPD officer Tony Im confirmed that the woman was found dead at the home. The victim has since been identified as 55-year-old Mayra Jimenez, according to ABC 7.
After the woman’s body was discovered, her husband was taken into custody.
The woman sustained injuries consistent with what appeared to be blunt force trauma, according to FOX 11. Meanwhile, authorities said they believe she was possibly bludgeoned to death and noted an axe was found at the crime scene.
“There’s no threat to public safety at this time,” LAPD Lieutenant Guy Golan said, per ABC 7. “The individual who is in custody at Northeast Station, we believe, is responsible for the incident.”
After the woman’s death was initially reported, the City of Glendale confirmed that the suspect was Jimenez. He first started working as a firefighter and paramedic with the Glendale Fire Department on April 28, 2008, and was working with the department at the time of his wife’s death.
Jimenez has since been placed on administrative leave and is off duty, assistant to the Glendale City Manager Domenica Megerdichian wrote in a statement obtained by Us Weekly.
Glendale Fire Chief Jeff Brooks also issued a statement to express the department’s condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones. “We are prepared to support those impacted by this tragedy, and we are also ensuring our firefighters and staff have access to support resources as they process this loss,” the statement said.
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The LAPD is currently leading the investigation into the case, while Brooks’ statement insisted that the Glendale Fire Department has been fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation.
Jimenez has been booked into jail on suspicion of murder with a $2 million bail, according to court records viewed by ABC 7.
The LAPD did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
While there is no official motive for the victim’s death, a statement from the Jimenez’s family attorney seemingly suggested that he learned his wife was having an affair.
“Our office is currently in contact with law enforcement regarding a diary of the decedent, apparently read moments before the homicide, that verified infidelity by the decedent,” the statement said, per ABC 7.
