By David Bolling
INDEX-TRIBUNE EDITOR
Published:
Thu 4/22 7 PM
The victims of what Sonoma police believe was a murder-suicide were identified Thursday as 78-year-old Diana D. Reinfeld and her 77-year-old husband Stanley J. Reinfeld. It was the second time in two months Sonoma police have discovered what appears to be a murder-suicide in the city.
The discovery was made at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday in an apartment at 157 Guadalupe Drive in a northeast neighborhood near Arnold Field.
According to Sonoma Police Sgt. Ruben Martinez, the discovery was made when a concerned friend of the Reinfelds reported to police she had not seen the couple for several days. When police arrived at the apartment, they concluded from circumstances at the scene there was cause for forced entry. They broke into the residence and found the Reinfelds dead in a bedroom. They had both suffered gunshot wounds.
Evidence gathered at the scene and from neighbors indicated the couple were in poor health, but further details about their medical condition and any motivations underlying the tragedy were not available.
Police Chief Bret Sackett said notes found in the apartment indicated a pre-meditated death pact. An autopsy was scheduled for today (Friday) to confirm the cause and time of death. Police would not speculate on how long the couple had been deceased.
On Feb. 19, Sonoma police found the bodies of 28-year-old Amy Beam and her 6-year-old daughter, Anjelee Sanchez, in a First Street West apartment. Detectives found notes and letters indicating Beam intended to commit suicide and they discovered dozens of pills and other medications close to the bodies. A subsequent autopsy revealed no external trauma and a pathologist's report suggested mother and daughter may have died of a medication overdose. The toxicologist's report in that case has not yet been made public.
Martinez said detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wednesday's discovery.
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