An El Cajon man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife, officials confirmed.
The county medical examiner's office was called to a suspicious death in El Cajon on Monday.
Officials said they received a call late Sunday reporting that a body was found inside one of the units at the Roanoke Apartments complex located at 174 Roanoke Rd., about half a block north of Main Street.
Officers arrived after 8 p.m. Sunday and found a 38-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds, El Cajon Lt. Michael Moulton said.
Investigators were on scene early Monday and focused their attention on a corner, upstairs unit.
Officials identified the victim as Gankil Wijdan.
The woman’s husband, described by officials as 47-year-old Salem Zora, was arrested on suspicion of murder, police said.
There were no outstanding suspects, Moulton said. No one else was in the apartment.
According to police, Zora called the El Cajon Police Department Sunday just before 8 p.m. and said he had returned home to find his wife not breathing.
Zora was still at the scene when police arrived. Police say several inconsistencies were discovered with his account of the incident and the crime scene, and he was arrested and charged with homicide in connection with Wijdan’s death.
Police say the couple lived alone in the El Cajon apartment and had no children. There is no known documented history of domestic violence between them, and El Cajon Police Department officials say they had never been called out to the apartment before Sunday.
Zora was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, but the arraignment was then pushed to Thursday. He’s still being held without bail in county jail.
A few dozen family members and friends of both the victim and suspect showed up at court Wednesday, including the victim’s nephew and a family friend who filmed the couple’s wedding video.
A family member told NBC 7 Wijdan’s sister had called Wijdan on Sunday to ask her why she wasn’t at a family gathering yet.
Wijdan allegedly told her sister she and her husband were having an argument, which is why she was running late. The victim also allegedly said Zora didn't want her going to the party.
The family member said Wijdan’s sister didn’t think it was a big deal, and expected to see Widjan at the party a bit later, only she never showed up.
Wijdan’s uncle, Zaya Patrus Jankeel, told NBC 7 the couple got married three years ago, in 2010.
Family friend Mike Alyashaa said the pair seemed like a happy couple and were always holding hands. He told NBC 7 that Wijdan was a very private person and typically didn’t share details about her personal life.
Wijdan’s nephew, Steven Rofaeel, described his aunt as a sweet, quiet person who was always helping others. Wijdan’s family said they’re holding her funeral Thursday in El Cajon.
On Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Ocain said Zora could face 26 years to life in prison if convicted of his wife’s murder.
