Overview

• Hotel staff found a man dead from a single gunshot wound at the Howard Johnson Inn in Ceres, and officers recovered a handgun in the room.
• During an unrelated domestic-violence follow-up in Modesto, a woman told responders she was an abuse victim and said the abuse may have occurred at a Ceres motel.
• When asked if the events were connected, the woman drove off with an unrestrained child; officers ended the pursuit for safety, and she later crashed and was detained.
• Investigators say the vehicle she drove was registered to the deceased and contained his belongings, and the woman admitted to shooting him after an approximately 18-year relationship.
• She was booked on murder, felony evasion and two counts of child endangerment; the child is with CPS, identities remain withheld, and police urge tips to Sgt. Berber at 209-538-5672.