SANTA ROSA, Calif. (TCN) —Â A deputy allegedly killed the mother of his kids before dropping off a baby with a neighbor and taking his own life.
According to the Santa Rosa Police Department, on the evening of Aug. 10, officers and emergency medical personnel responded to an apartment. While en route, the reporting party reportedly said 44-year-old Jeremy Lyle had handed her an infant and told her to call 911 “because the child’s mother was hurt.”
Lyle allegedly fled in a vehicle, and the reporting party stayed with the baby in her home until law enforcement arrived.
A responding officer went into the apartment and found 38-year-old Mari Bonnici deceased with at least one gunshot wound. Police also reportedly discovered twin toddlers believed to be Lyle and Bonnici’s, but all the children were unharmed and are in the care of relatives.
According to police, officers learned Lyle was an off-duty deputy with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after 7:30 p.m., authorities discovered his truck parked in the lot at the coroner’s office and responded to the area.
Police said they found Lyle “standing in the bed of his truck, holding a handgun behind his back.” Officials attempted to negotiate a surrender, but he allegedly shot himself at around 2 a.m.
Police allege Lyle and Bonnici “had been in a domestic partnership before their separation.” Both reportedly worked for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and there were no prior reports of domestic violence in their home.
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