ANDREW JIMENEZ, A California firefighter has been charged with domestic violence murder after investigators say he beat his wife to death with an axe after reading her diary, which he claimed confirmed her infidelity.
Authorities said Glendale firefighter Andrew Jimenez, 45, went to a fire station in the Glassell Park area shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday and told officers he was unable to reach his wife, requesting a welfare check. Police then responded to the couple’s home in the 5600 block of Satsuma Avenue.
When officers entered the residence, they found Mayra Jimenez, 55, suffering from severe blunt force trauma. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Investigators said she had been struck with an axe that was recovered inside the home.
Jimenez was taken into custody shortly after 4:30 a.m. and questioned by detectives. During the interview, authorities said he confessed to killing his wife.
The city of Glendale confirmed that Jimenez has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest. Fire Chief Jeff Brooks issued a statement offering condolences to the victim’s family and saying the department is providing support resources to those affected by the tragedy.
According to KTLA, Mayra Jimenez was a third-grade teacher at Wilshire Park Elementary School and a union representative with United Teachers Los Angeles. She was described by colleagues as a caring and dedicated educator. The couple had been married since 2014.
Following the arrest, Jimenez’s attorney stated that the firefighter had read his wife’s diary shortly before the killing and believed it confirmed she had been unfaithful. The attorney later withdrew from the case, according to Eyewitness News.
Neighbors expressed shock over the incident, saying there had been no visible signs of domestic violence at the home. One neighbor told KTLA that the crime was unexpected and deeply disturbing.
Jimenez joined the Glendale Fire Department in 2008 and had recently been promoted. He was known for his work battling major fires, including the Palisades Fire, and had been regarded as a respected member of the department.
Jimenez is charged with one count of domestic violence murder and is being held on $2 million bail. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 26 years to life in state prison.
