CRESCENT CITY (AP) – A sheriff’s deputy was found dead in her home and her boyfriend was later arrested in Oregon, United States on suspicion of killing her, authorities said.
The body of Deputy Deanna Esmaeel was discovered at the residence in coastal Crescent City, California, the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. An arrest warrant was issued for Daniel James Walter, who was last seen near Esmaeel’s house on the day of the killing. Authorities in Curry county found Walter’s black Mazda sedan and he was arrested a short time later, officials said.
Sheriff’s officials didn’t say if the 54-year-old suspect had an attorney and contact information for Walter could not be found.
Esmaeel was the mother of actor Marty York, best known for a role in the 1993 movie The Sandlot. Esmaeel had worked as an animal trainer on film sets for decades before making the change to law enforcement in 2021, SFGate reported on Sunday.
York wrote on Instagram that he had been informed of his mother’s death. “The emotions I have are horrible right now between rage, vengeance, crying,” York said.
Walter was charged in March with unauthorised entry into a dwelling, according to According to Del Norte County court records obtained by SFGate. It’s not clear whose dwelling he is accused of unlawfully entering.
Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott said his office was heartbroken by the loss of one of its deputies.
