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Police in Newport Beach, California, are investigating the deaths of a former pro hockey player and a mother-of-two found in an upscale condominium as a double-homicide and not a murder-suicide, PEOPLE confirms.
On Sunday at 9:27 p.m., police responded to a 911 call from a man who said he returned to his locked condo to findthe bodies of his roommate, Darren Partch, 38, as well as a woman he did not recognize, later identified as Wendy Miller, 48, of Costa Mesa, theLos Angeles Timesreports.
Police announced afterward there was no forced entry into the home and there was no ongoing threat to the public, leading some to speculate the deaths were a murder-suicide.
But police spokeswoman Heather Rangel tells PEOPLE, “This is a double homicide case.”
“The only information that I can give you is that our detectives are working tirelessly each day and night to bring closure to this case,” Rangel tells PEOPLE.
The department released a statement earlier saying that “at this time” authorities are “conducting an active homicide investigation. The activity appears to be confined to this location and investigators have no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety.”
Kevin Sullivan/SCNG via ZUMA
Police have not said whether they are questioning any suspects or persons of interest.
Asked if police expect to make an arrest, Rangel told theOC Register,“I certainly hope so.”
Newport Beach resident James Kwast says Miller had given Partch a ride home Friday night after they left the Sandpiper bar in Laguna Beach, where she was last seen, theTimesreports.
“They hit it off,” Kwast told theTimes. “They had a great time down in Laguna Beach. He needed a ride home. She was known for giving people rides home whenever they needed it.”
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A well-known social justice advocate in the community, Miller was chief executive ofWings for Justice, a nonprofit that works to protect children in the family court system.
On Sunday, Miller’s son announced his mom’s tragic death on Facebook, saying, “She had been shot and it was told to us that she did not suffer.”
Partch worked as a finance and credit consultant, KABC reports. Heplayed on several minor league hockey teamsover the years, according to Pointstreak.com.
“Darren was a great guy,” Kwast told theTimes.
Anyone with information about the case should call Det. Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797.
source: people.com
