L.A. firefighter accused of beating wife to death with an ax after reading her diary

LOS ANGELES (TCN) -- A longtime firefighter had been detained on suspicion of killing his wife, who was found in their home beaten to death with an ax.

KTTV reports that on Jan. 21, 45-year-old Andrew Jimenez flagged down passing officers outside a police station. He requested a welfare check at his home, stating he had not heard from his wife. Officers arriving at the home found Mayra Jimenez, 55, with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. She was not breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Investigators found an ax at the scene and believe that Mayra Jimenez might have been bludgeoned to death with it, according to KTTV.

KABC reports Jimenez was an off-duty paramedic and firefighter and that the attack was a domestic violence incident. According to the outlet, a statement released by his attorney suggests he had discovered his wife was having an affair. The statement reads, “Our office is currently in contact with law enforcement regarding a diary of the decedent, apparently read moments before the homicide, that verified infidelity by the decedent.”

The city of Glendale announced Jimenez, a firefighter with the Glendale Fire Department since 2008, was placed on administrative leave, per KTTV.

According to KABC, Mayra Jimenez was an elementary school teacher. She reportedly served as a nondenominational minister for weddings and was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. Friends state she and Andrew Jimenez had been married for about 10 years. 

Jimenez was booked into jail on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail. The investigation is ongoing.

MORE:
Longtime Glendale firefighter arrested in wife’s slaying – Los Angeles Times

Calif. firefighter detained after woman found dead in his home: LAPD – People