A Compton man who allegedly slit the throat of his wife of more than 30 years the day after her birthday was charged Wednesday with murder.
Henry Cunningham, 66, could face a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted of killing Melanie Ann Cunningham, 58.
She was asleep in a bedroom with her 1-year-old granddaughter when Cunningham allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and slit her throat on Monday, according to Deputy District Attorney Van Ha.
Along with the murder charge, Cunningham faces a misdemeanor count of cruelty to a child by inflicting injury involving the woman’s granddaughter, who was not hurt.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies sent to the couple’s home in the 15600 block of South Frailey Avenue found the woman dead at the scene about 10 a.m. Monday and booked her husband on suspicion of murder, according to sheriff’s Deputy Trina Schrader.
The woman had turned 58 on Sunday, and the couple had celebrated her birthday that night, according to a family member.
Cunningham is due back in a Compton courtroom Jan. 9, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.