Rafaela Maria De Casas, a 69-year-old Latina, was found dead Saturday, Sept. 20, in the 3800 block of West 226th Street in Torrance, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Police went to an apartment in the area about 8:15 p.m. and found an "incoherent" man with self-inflicted wounds and a woman with what appeared to be stab wounds, said Torrance Police Sgt. Paul Kranke.
The woman, identified as De Casas, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:18 p.m. said Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations for the coroner’s office.
The man, identified as De Casas’ son, Rudy De Casas, was taken to a hospital and is in police custody.
“I think he kind of took care of her,” Kranke said of the woman, who lived with her son and his wife.
Kranke said it is unknown whether De Casas was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Torrance Police Department at (310) 618-5570. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.