Morgan Hill man charged with murder after beating his wife to death in front of their children: DA
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A South Bay father accused of beating his wife to death in front of their two young children has been charged with murder, authorities said.
Roy Anthony Lopez, 37, appeared before a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge on Wednesday but did not enter a plea.
RELATED: Morgan Hill man confesses to killing wife after driving her to hospital, police say
Lopez is also accused of assaulting his wife's 14-year-old son before the attack on his wife. The boy told police he later returned home and found his mother severely beaten and struggling to function and stand.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Barbara Cathcart described the allegations as particularly disturbing.
"To beat someone to death is just an absolutely terrible crime to begin with; to do so in front of a 6-year-old and 3-year-old child is just absolutely something that's inconceivable. This is an absolutely horrible crime," said Cathcart.
Authorities said Lopez later drove the woman to a hospital, where he told staff he had killed his wife. Investigators said she was found dead in his car.
The county medical examiner has not identified the victim. However, her family identified her as Jasmyne Garcia on a GoFundMe page.
Lopez is scheduled to return to court Dec. 15.
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