Arizona Daily Star

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/allheadlines/56306.php

By Aaron Mackey
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Tucson police discovered a woman's body in a North Side apartment complex Sunday after California police learned of a suspected homicide during a suicide investigation.

Police in Blythe, Calif., contacted officers with the Tucson Police Department to tell them that a woman was possibly dead in an apartment located in the 2500 block of North Los Altos Avenue, said Sgt. Carlos Valdez, a TPD spokesman.

Angela M. Smith, 51, was found in the apartment. She had died as a result of multiple stab wounds, Valdez said.

Richard P. Rodriguez, 29, who is originally from Washington, lived in the apartment, said Detective Sgt. Jeff Wade, a Blythe Police Department spokesman.

Rodriguez was found Sunday morning in a car in Blythe suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Police have ruled the death a suicide, Wade said.

While notifying next of kin in Washington, a relative told Blythe police that Rodriguez had called Saturday night and said there was a body in his Tucson apartment, Wade said.

Rodriguez had rented a hotel room in Blythe Saturday night and had only been in the area for a short time, Wade said.

Tucson police believe Rodriguez is the chief suspect in the case of Smith's death because of his admission, Valdez said.

Rodriguez and Smith were friends and Smith may have helped to raise Rodriguez, Valdez said.

It is not clear when Rodriguez was last in Tucson, but Valdez said Smith had died shortly before her body was found.