By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
A woman's estranged husband was arrested Tuesday night, accused of opening fire and killing her as she exited a San Jacinto Mexican restaurant.
Wilbert Frank Jr., 50, of Temecula, was arrested hours after his wife, Silvia Frank, 37, was killed, sheriff's Central Homicide Sgt. Herman Lopez said in a report Wednesday.
Detectives said the couple had recently separated and the shooting was prompted by ongoing domestic violence. Silvia Frank had filed a permanent restraining order that was finalized in October, according to court records.
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Silvia Frank was shot in front of Santana's Mexican Food shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday at the busy corner of State Street and Ramona Expressway.
She worked as a nurse at Hemet Valley Medical Center, where she was taken to by ambulance. She died from her injures about 30 minutes later.
About 20 nurses and friends held a vigil at the restaurant Wednesday night, 24 hours after the killing. They placed a cross and wreath in front of the restaurant and said a prayer while standing in a circle holding hands.
Homicide detectives used surveillance footage from the restaurant that showed the gunman speeding away from the scene, Lopez said.
Within two hours, police tracked Wilbert Frank to Temecula, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Laura Besaw, a nurse who worked with Silvia Frank, said Wilbert Frank had called to meet with his wife at the restaurant Tuesday to exchange clothes for his daughter. Besaw said Silvia felt uneasy, but brought her oldest of five daughters with her to the restaurant.
The history of domestic violence dates back to January 2009, when Wilbert Frank was convicted of misdemeanor spousal battery but was acquitted of felony spousal abuse.
During that case, his daughter called police to report he was drinking and had struck her and her mother, according to a prosecution trial brief. Silvia Frank told police he put her in a headlock and hit her several times. She said he threatened to kill her if she got him arrested, according to the brief.
The Riverside County district attorney's office is reviewing the case to file possible charges.
Reach John Asbury at 951-763-3451 or jasbury@PE.com
4 comments:
I know her daughters are strong I went to school with them a few years ago but they will still need a lot of help and thoughts and prayers going out to them.
I can't believe he would do this.
She was a beautiful woman and Mother.
All the girls friends just adored her. Me included.
May she rest in peace
I knew Sylvia in high school and notified some of her friends about this. We are all saddened and in disbelief. My sons went to school with a couple of her girls and they, too are in shock. We all love you and are keeping you in our prayers. May her daughters find the light at the end of this dark tunnel very soon. God bless all of you!
I knew the Franks I went 2 school with his younger brothers in Texas. It is hard 2 believe that he did something like this.
I worked with Sylvia, and this is hard to believe. Everyone is really sad, and worried about her girls. This was senceless. I always felt that Sylvia was an angel. I guess now, she really is.
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