Fresno, CA: Husband Charged In Wife's Murder

Posted: March 6, 2010 12:02 AM

By: Rich Rodriguez

A Fresno man who police say suffers from dementia severely beat his wife to death Friday morning. Police Chief Jerry Dyer says the suspect first admitted the murder to his neighbor and then to the first officer to arrive on scene.

76 year old Charles Salazar waited in the middle of the 800 block of south Crystal for police to arrive at his Southwest Fresno home. Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters at a news conference, "when he made contact with this individual he admittedly told the officer that he had just killed his wife and that he was sorry."

The officer quickly called for backup. When additional officers arrived they went inside and discovered Salazar's 53 year old wife dead on the couch. Officers say she had suffered severe head trauma. At this time Fresno police aren't releasing the victim's name.

John Lucio is a neighbor to the Salazar's. He told us the suspect is a good friend. "I'd say he's a good man. But I don't know here lately I don't know what happened to him. He comes to my house and he talks but he doesn't make sense some times," Lucio said.

On Thursday Charles Salazar called police to report a break–in at his home. Minutes after an officer arrived he determined that Salazar's story was fishy. Salazar then admitted he made it up so he could get police help to locate his wife. 20 minutes later she returned home.

Chief Dyer said, "she responded back to the address and told the officer that her husband had been experiencing dementia and that she would take care of him. The two of them went inside the residence and the officer left."

Chief Dyer says Charles Salazar has no criminal past and no history of domestic violence. Police have no clue what triggered the violent act. So far they don't have a murder weapon. Salazar has been booked into the Fresno County jail on one count of murder.