A Glendale firefighter arrested in a homicide investigation after his wife was found dead in their North Hollywood home has been charged with murder.
Andrew Jimenez, 45, is charged with one count of murder with an allegation of using an axe as a deadly weapon, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said Friday.
The investigation into what police said appeared to be a deadly case of domestic violence unfolded after a man approached officers Wednesday at a police station and asked for a welfare check on his wife, the LAPD said. Officers arrived at the home in the 5000 block of Satsuma Avenue at around 4:25 a.m. and found a woman dead.
“When they entered the home, they found a female in her 50s who was deceased and appeared to be suffering from multiple blunt force trauma,” said Lt. Guy Golan.
The man who made the welfare check request was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the LAPD. He was later identified as firefighter and paramedic Jimenez, who served in the Glendale Fire Department since 2008.
The victim was identified as his wife, 55-year-old Mayra Jimenez.
“Homicide investigators conducted interviews, reviewed videos, and processed the crime scene. Their investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were in a marital relationship and that this was an incident of domestic violence,” said the LAPD.
Jimenez was placed off duty and on administrative leave, according to the City of Glendale.
In a statement, the city of Glendale said, “The Glendale Fire Department has been notified by LAPD that an off-duty member of the department has been detained in connection with an active homicide investigation in the North Hollywood area. LAPD is the lead investigating agency and the matter is ongoing.”
Jimenez faces up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted as charged. Arraignment was scheduled for Friday.
“The domestic violence death of Mayra Jimenez is a devastating reminder of the persistent scourge of intimate partner violence in our communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “No one, including those sworn to protect others, is above the law, and we will hold the defendant accountable for this horrific crime and bring justice to Ms. Jimenez and her loved ones. Too often, cases of domestic violence go unreported and have the potential to end tragically, as in this instance. I want to urge anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse to contact the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 978-3600.”
