A Glendale firefighter was charged with murder Friday for allegedly bludgeoning his wife inside their North Hollywood home.
The murder charge against Andrew Jimenez, 45, includes a sentence-enhancing allegation of the use of a deadly weapon — an axe.
Jimenez appeared in court in downtown Los Angeles Friday afternoon, but his arraignment was postponed until Feb. 19. He was ordered to remain jailed without bail.
The murder charge stems from the Wednesday killing of Mayra Jimenez, 55, a third-grade teacher at Wilshire Park Elementary School in Koreatown. Her body was found Wednesday morning inside the couple’s home in the 5600 block of Satsuma Avenue.
According to police, Andrew Jimenez went to LAPD’s Northeast Community Police Station at 3353 N. San Fernando Road in Glassell Park, about 10 miles from his home, around 4 a.m. Wednesday to request a welfare check on his wife, saying he had been unable to reach her.
The victim was later located at the residence, where detectives discovered she had suffered blunt force trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene, prompting police to establish a homicide crime scene, with Robbery-Homicide Division Valley Bureau detectives taking over the investigation.
“Homicide investigators conducted interviews, reviewed videos, and processed the crime scene. Their investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were in a marital relationship and that this was an incident of domestic violence,” police said in a statement.
The suspect had apparently found out his wife was cheating on him “moments” before the killing, according to attorney Jose Romero, who was representing Jimenez at the time of his arrest but is no longer on the case.
“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,” Romero told various media outlets in a statement at the time. He said Jimenez was a “veteran of the Pacific Palisades fire.”
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement the case is a “devastating reminder of the persistent scourge of intimate partner violence in our communities.”
“No one, including those sworn to protect others, is above the law, and we will hold the defendant accountable for this horrific crime and bring justice to Ms. Jimenez and her loved ones,” Hochman said. “Too often, cases of domestic violence go unreported and have the potential to end tragically, as in this instance. I want to urge anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse to contact the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-978-3600.”
The couple had been married since November 2014, The New York Post reported, citing pictures on social media.
Jimenez, who has served as a firefighter/paramedic with the Glendale Fire Department since April 28, 2008, was placed on administrative leave effective immediately, according to the city of Glendale.
“Our condolences are with the victim’s family and loved ones,” GFD Chief Jeff Brooks said in a statement. “We are prepared to support those impacted by this tragedy, and we are also ensuring our firefighters and staff have access to support resources as they process this loss.”
“This is an extremely serious and deeply troubling matter,” city officials said in a statement. “First and foremost, our hearts are with the victim’s family and loved ones, and we extend our sincere condolences as they grieve this tragic loss.”
Crisis counseling was offered to students and staff at Wilshire Park Elementary School on Thursday.
“We are heartbroken by this loss, and many of us are still processing this information, as we only just learned of it,” a Los Angeles Unified School District representative said in a message sent to the school community Wednesday. “Mrs. Jimenez was a beloved teacher, colleague, and friend, and she made a lasting impact on our school community and the students she served. Our thoughts are with Mrs. Jimenez’s family, loved ones and all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that the community respect the privacy of Mrs. Jimenez’s family during this difficult time.”
A candlelight vigil was scheduled to be held at the school Friday evening.
Anyone with additional information regarding the case was urged to call the Robbery-Homicide Division’s Valley Bureau at 818-374-9550. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 310-726-7700 or 877-527-3247.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.