Stranger attacks couple in their home, kills 70-year-old man, California cops say

A stranger attacked a couple inside their Murrieta home, fatally stabbing the 70-year-old husband, California police reported.

A woman called 911 to report the attack just before 8:20 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, Murrieta police said in a news release.

She told officers a stranger had entered their home, stabbing her husband with a knife and stabbing her in the head with a screwdriver, police said.

The woman told officers that her husband appeared to be dead and the intruder had fled out the back door of their home, police said.

Officers confirmed the 70-year-old man had died and began a search for the accused attacker, police said.

Shortly before 9 a.m., officers found the accused attacker hiding in a ravine behind a nearby home, police said. He tried to hide in some bushes until police sent in a K-9, according to authorities.

Manual Arturo Alvarez, 36, of Modesto faces charges including homicide and attempted homicide, police said.

Investigators ask anyone with information to contact 951-461-6365 or tmunyer@murrietaca.gov.

Murrieta is about a 45-mile drive southeast from Riverside.