Martinez Husband, Wife Charged In Father's Death: DA

MARTINEZ, CA— A Martinez couple has been charged with murder and related felonies after the woman's 77-year-old father who apparently died from neglect was found unresponsive in their home last week, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County District Attorney said Wednesday.

In addition to murder, Edmund Phillip St. John, 49, and 50-year-old Laura Ann Lawrence have also been charged with involuntary manslaughter, elder abuse or neglect resulting in death and child abuse — all of which are felonies. They also face one misdemeanor charge for attempting to dissuade a witness from filing a police report.

Emergency crews were initially dispatched to the 200 block of Escondido Drive around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 on report of a man who had stopped breathing. The elderly victim was already dead when medical personnel arrived.

Investigators determined the death was likely a result of neglect, and Lawrence and St. John were booked into jail.

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In addition to the felonies stemming from the death itself, prosecutors also allege the pair engaged in felony child abuse against one of their children and that on the day the death was reported, Lawrence attempted to prevent a different relative who is listed as both a victim and a witness from reporting the crime.

They are scheduled for arraignment Monday morning in Martinez.

The decedent in this case has been identified, according to the Contra Costa County coroner's office, but his name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

By Bay City News Service