Remains of missing California mother Heather Gumina found, husband arrested
44-year-old Anthony Gumina charged with first degree murder; Anita Vogel reports from Los Angeles.
A California man accused of killing his missing wife, whose body was found Friday, allegedly murdered her to prevent her from testifying about a crime she witnessed, court documents revealed Tuesday.
Anthony Gumina of Pleasant Valley, Calif., about 50 miles east of Sacramento, appeared in court four days after the body of Heather Gumina Waters was found in the Pleasant Valley area. She had been missing since July 15.
REMAINS OF MISSING CALIFORNIA MOTHER OF 3 DISCOVERED, HUSBAND ARRESTED, SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS
"Heather Gumina was a witness to a crime and was intentionally killed to prevent her from testifying in a criminal proceeding,” the criminal complaint says, according to Sacramento's FOX 40.
"Heather Gumina was a witness to a crime and was intentionally killed to prevent her from testifying in a criminal proceeding.”
The husband has a history of violence, FOX 40 reported. In January, he was charged with tackling his wife while she held their 4-year-old son and tried to prevent her from calling 911.
Gumina was also charged with breaking his wife’s collarbone the night before she went missing.
It’s not clear what crime the complaint refers to her witnessing, but it may have been the January attack, FOX 40 reported.
Gumina was also accused of threatening to kill a former business partner and burn down his house in 2017. He allegedly kicked in the man’s front door, pushed him to the ground and drove away in his backhoe, according to the station.
He tested positive for opioids and methamphetamines at the time.
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The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said Saturday on Facebook that Anthony Gumina, 44, was initially arrested on an outstanding no-bail warrant for domestic violence.
Fox News' Travis Fedschun contributed to this report.
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