The Californian, Temecula, CA 92590
MURRIETA: Police say no public threat after recent slaying
No suspect has been named or arrested after death of Murrieta woman
By JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | Friday, May 9, 2008 8:12 PM PDT
MURRIETA ---- Nearly two weeks after a Murrieta woman was found bludgeoned to death in her home no arrests have been made, which has some residents concerned that a killer burglar may be on the loose.
The woman's death was reported by her husband, who told officers he returned home the morning of April 28 and found that the home had been broken into and ransacked. His wife's body was found in the upstairs master bedroom.
On Friday, however, Murrieta police said they don't believe residents have reason to fear.
"If we thought there was a further threat to the public, we would be advising the public of that imminent threat," Murrieta police Lt. Dennis Vrooman said.
The morning of April 28, police received a call from a man who said someone had broken into his Tamarisk Street home and that his wife was dead.
Kelle Jarka told police he returned home about 8:45 a.m. after a 45-minute shopping trip to find the break-in and his wife's body.
Upstairs, police found the body of 40-year-old Isabelle Jarka. A Riverside County coroner's autopsy revealed she had been hit in the head at least 11 times with a blunt object.
Police searched the Jarkas' home, even expanding the search to nearby Harveston Lake in Temecula, but have not found what was used to kill her.
Detectives are looking at all possibilities, including that she may have been killed by someone she knew, Vrooman said.
Neighbors interviewed after the slaying was discovered told The Californian they heard nothing out of the ordinary at the Jarka home that morning.
Police towed three vehicles from the home and have been examining them. What, if any, evidence was found has not been released by detectives.
Police ask that anyone with information about the case call Detective Sgt. Jim Ganley at (951) 461-6361.
Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or [email protected].