Sandra Elaine Oliver-Jones, 47

Sandra Oliver-Jones, a 47-year-old black woman, died Saturday, May 22, in the 3100 block of Avenue Q13 in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Steven Estell, Oliver-Jones' boyfriend, initially told police he last saw his girlfriend at her residence one hour after sundown May 21, said Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office.

According to the account Estell gave authorities, when he returned to her home an hour later he found Oliver-Jones unresponsive lying on the floor. He did not call 911, Winter said.

It wasn't until Oliver-Jones’ roommate came home the next morning and saw her body that Estell, a 39-year-old  black man, was urged to contact the authorities, Winter said. Paramedics were called and Oliver-Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, according to coroner's records.

Det. Todd Anderson, who is handling the investigation, said Estell later told authorities that he beat Oliver-Jones to death about 10 p.m. May 21. He was thinking about fleeing the scene when Oliver-Jones' roommate came home and made him call for help, Anderson said.

Estell was arrested May 22 and booked on suspicion of murder in connection with Oliver-Jones' death.

Anderson said at the time of the incident that Estell was on probation for a domestic violence arrest that occurred in December 2009.

-- Sarah Ardalani