Home intruder stabs 70-year-old man to death, attacks woman with screwdriver in Murrieta

MURRIETA, Calif. (KABC) -- A man broke into a couple's home in Murrieta, killing the husband and severely injuring the wife with a screwdriver, police said.

After an all-out manhunt, the alleged attacker is in police custody.

The violent attack happened Wednesday at about 8:18 a.m. at a home on Old Spring Road, according to the Murrieta Police Department. Officers responded after a woman frantically called 911 saying an intruder had broken in and that her husband had been killed.

Officers quickly locked down the area, warning residents to stay inside and lock their doors as they searched the neighborhood and a nearby ravine behind the homes.

That's where they found 36-year-old Manuel Arturo Alvarez hiding. When he refused to surrender, police sent in Robbie, their 4-year-old Belgian Shepherd K-9, to bring him down.

Neighbors were stunned to learn that their quiet street had become the scene of a homicide investigation.

"It was scary thinking back that we were just feet away from some guy on the run with a knife. In this area, nothing like this ever happens over here. So, it was pretty scary," said area resident Tyler Hamilton.

"I take my kids to school, it's calm, and then I get back and there's a helicopter circling around, there's just cops lined up all the way, coming in and flying out," said neighbor Heather King.

Police say Alvarez is accused of using a knife to stab a 70-year-old man to death and attacking the victim's wife by stabbing her in the head with a screwdriver. She remains hospitalized but is expected to recover.

"I'm just sad about it. It's like a woman woke up without her husband today, and with an injury, and that is our neighbor," a neighbor said.

Investigators say Alvarez is a transient from Modesto with no prior criminal history. They believe he entered the home through an unlocked door and may have been under the influence at the time. Detectives say the attack appears to be random.

"This is random. This is just a house right down the street, in a new neighborhood that we moved in, like it can happen to anybody," said neighbor Jamel King.

Alvarez was set to be in court to face murder and attempted murder charges, but has not been medically cleared to be in court following injuries from his confrontation with the K-9. Murrieta police say Alvarez was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for homicide and attempted homicide.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Munyer at (951) 461-6365 or tmunyer@murrietaca.gov.