Chula Vista

Police Searching for Man Suspected of Killing Wife in Chula Vista

The children told officers that their dad fled the scene and believed he killed their mother during the fight

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Chula Vista Police have released a picture of the man they believe killed his wife in a domestic violence dispute early Sunday in Chula Vista.

Police identified the suspect as 37-year-old Francisco Uriarte and the victim as 35-year-old Natalia Uriarte.

The suspect was not in custody as of 12 p.m. Monday and his whereabouts were unknown, police said.

Francisco Uriarte is armed and dangerous, and on the run possibly in the San Diego area, police said. He was last seen wearing a black overcoat, shorts, flip-flops. He is 5-foot-9, weighs 190 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

He is believed to have significant injuries to his hands and may seek medical attention, CVPD said.

Officers received a call from a neighbor Sunday claiming to have heard a woman scream at around 1:38 a.m. on the 500 block of Oxford Street.

Once officers arrived at the apartment complex, they found three children who said their mother and father had been in a physical fight, Chula Vista Police said.

The children also told officers that their dad had fled the scene and they believed he killed their mother during the fight, CVPD said.

Officers found the mother, Natalia Uriarte, unresponsive and pronounced her dead at the scene, Chula Vista Police Sgt. Andrea Mayorga said.

The children were not harmed, Mayorga said, and the motive for the homicide was unknown. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who may have any information can contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477

No other information was available.

For San Diego County information on domestic violence hotlines and support networks, click here.

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