A California firefighter is behind bars after investigators accused him of beating his wife to death with an axe, reportedly after reading her diary that “confirmed infidelity.”
Los Angeles Police said that Glendale firefighter Andrew Jimenez, 45, flagged down officers at the department’s station in Glassell Park early Wednesday morning, telling them he was unable to reach his wife and asking for a welfare check.
Officer went to the home and found 55-year-old Mayra Jimenez with what appeared to be blunt force trauma injuries. Paramedics pronounced her dead, and police say it appeared she had been bludgeoned with an axe found at the scene.
Sources told KTTV the scene was “horrific.”
Andrew Jimenez was taken in for questioning at about 4:30 a.m. and reportedly confessed to the brutal beating.
The city of Glendale released a statement saying that Jimenez had been placed on administrative leave after his arrest.
“Our condolences are with the victim’s family and loved ones,” said Fire Chief Jeff Brooks. “We are prepared to support those impacted by this tragedy, and we are also ensuring our firefighters and staff have access to support resources as they process this loss.”
The city said Jimenez had been with the department since April 2008.
According to KTLA, Mayra Jimenez was a “caring educator” and a union representative with United Teachers Los Angeles. The couple had been married since 2014.
Jimenez’s attorney blamed the victim for her own murder, telling the station in a statement that Andrew Jimenez had read his wife’s diary, which he claimed “verified infidelity by the decedent,” just “moments” before beating her to death.
Jimenez has been charged with murder and is being held on a $2 million bond.
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[Featured image: Mayra Jimenez/Facebook]