A missing mother was found dead hours after the father of her child was accused of threatening to harm their toddler outside a police station, California police say.
The woman’s partner called 911 shortly before 9:30 p.m. August 3, the Watsonville Police Department noted in a Facebook post.
Standing outside the police station, he told officers “he was armed with a knife,” threatening to hurt his 3-year-old, according to police.
An officer stepped out of his patrol car and told the man to drop the knife, police said.
The man, however, ignored the officer and charged at him, police said.
“In return,” the officer opened fire, according to police.
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The suspect was taken to a hospital.
The man was taken into custody and transported to a hospital, “where he is in stable condition,” police said.
The toddler, who was not hurt, was reunited with family, police said.
After the incident, police said they along with the 25-year-old woman’s family were unable to reach her, adding that her family said it was unlike her not to respond to phone calls or text messages.
Her body was found the next morning.
The next morning, deputies responded to a call about a body found in Santa Cruz County, the sheriff’s office shared in a Facebook post.
The body was identified as the missing mother, deputies said.
Her death is considered suspicious, and officials are investigating her cause of death, the sheriff’s office said.
An investigation is ongoing, deputies said.
McClatchy News has reached out to police and deputies to ask what charges the man may face.
Watsonville is about a 90-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.
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