Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Pacific Grove, CA: Pacific Grove woman stabbed to death; daughter's estranged boyfriend arrested

Daughter's estranged boyfriend, found next to body, is considered a suspect
By DANIEL LOPEZ
Herald Staff Writer
Posted: 11/23/2010 01:37:28 AM PST
Updated: 11/23/2010 01:37:29 AM PST

A Pacific Grove woman was found dead Sunday, and her daughter's estranged boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of murder, police said.
Judith Salazar, 46, was stabbed to death in her home, where she was found on the floor. Next to her, suffering from knife wounds, was the suspect, Sunny Nguyen, 26, of Seaside, Pacific Grove police said.

Nguyen, who is recovering at a San Jose hospital, is believed to have attacked Salazar after taking a taxi from Seaside to the house. The taxi driver was asked to wait outside, but called police after suspecting Nguyen would not return to pay the fare, Chief Darius Engles said Monday.

The driver had been waiting for "an extended period of time," he said.

Officers arrived and knocked on the front door. There was no answer, but they could see movement inside and hear noise, police said.

At least one officer looked in the window and saw what appeared to be blood splattered on a wall. Officers then broke in.

Salazar was pronounced dead at the scene, and Nguyen was taken to the hospital.

Investigators are trying to determine if his wounds were self-inflicted or caused by Salazar trying to defend herself, Engles said.

"We'll be doing a forensic exam," he said.

Salazar's daughter, whom police have not identified, has two children with Nguyen.

Police have not discussed a motive for the killing, but the couple has been estranged for some time. The children were living with their mother and Salazar in

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Pacific Grove, police said.
The children, an 8-month-old boy and 2-year-old girl, were in the home when their grandmother was killed. They were in another room and weren't harmed, Engles said. The mother of the children was out with friends for the evening.

The children were initially placed in protective custody, but they were later reunited with their mother, Engles said.

Salazar was a special education teacher at Alisal High School in Salinas.

Principal Dan Burns said Salazar worked at the school for about five years. A staff meeting was held to discuss the news, and counselors will be available today.

"It's tragic," he said.

Nguyen will be booked at Monterey County Jail on suspicion of murder once he is released from the hospital, police said.

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