Home Contra Costa County Martinez Police Say 77-Year-old Man Found Deceased Likely Due to Neglect

Martinez Police Say 77-Year-old Man Found Deceased Likely Due to Neglect

by ECT

The Martinez Police Department announced the arrest of two people in connection with the death of a 77-year-old man saying it was likely caused by neglect.

On February 28, 2019, at approximately 10:28 am, Martinez Police officers and medical personnel responded to the 200 block of Escondido Drive for a 911 medical call. The caller advised there was a male at the residence who was not breathing. Officers and medical personal arrived on scene and located a 77-year-old male in a bedroom and determined he was already deceased.

Police say officers then conducted a preliminary investigation into the cause of death.

The investigation revealed the death was likely caused by neglect. The two residents living in the home with the deceased male were identified as Edmund Phillip St. John, 49 years old and Laura Ann Lawrence, 50 years old, both of Martinez, Ca. The two suspects were arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for manslaughter, elder abuse, and child cruelty.

As a result of a continued investigation, Martinez Police Detectives presented a case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and both previously arrested suspects were charged with murder, manslaughter, elder abuse, intimidating a witness and child cruelty.

No photographs of the suspects were released by police.

Martinez Police are asking if you have any information on this incident, please contact Detective Sergeant Moore of the Martinez Police Department at (925)372-3450.

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