A Morgan Hill man is in custody following a disturbing murder investigation after police say he killed his wife and drove her body to a San Jose hospital.
Roy Anthony Lopez, 37, was taken into custody Saturday after arriving at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose with his wife in the passenger seat. Morgan Hill police noted that a recent mugshot of Lopez was not available, releasing a previous booking photo from an unrelated arrest instead.
Police say Lopez told hospital staff that he had killed his wife. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead inside a car in the hospital parking lot.
San Jose police detained Lopez and notified the Morgan Hill Police Department, determining the homicide occurred at a home near Vintage Lane in Morgan Hill. Investigators reported finding evidence of a homicide inside the residence.
“During the investigation officers determined that it had been committed in Morgan Hill and that the subject then drove the victim to Good Samaritan,” said Sgt. Sean Bayard of the Morgan Hill Police Department.
The discovery sparked immediate concern for the couple’s three children—ages 14, 6, and 3—who were inside the home at the time and may have witnessed the attack.
“They were at the house we believe at the time, and they are in safe custody right now,” Sgt. Bayard said.
Neighbors expressed shock at the violence in the otherwise quiet neighborhood, reporting a heavy police presence outside the home for hours Saturday before details of the tragedy emerged.
“Police were here for quite a few hours,” said neighbor Pranhleen Bariana. “It’s heartbreaking. No circumstances justify taking a significant other’s life.”
Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity, pending notification of family by the coroner’s office. Investigators noted that a firearm was not used in the killing, though an official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
As the investigation continues, police are working to piece together the motive, including why Lopez drove to the San Jose hospital.
“We want to let them know that we’re doing our best to follow anything we can on this case so we can present this to the DA office to help them in the prosecution of it,” Sgt. Bayard said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Morgan Hill police Sgt. Bayard by phone at 408-607-3032 or by email at sean.bayard@morganhill.ca.gov.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.