Terra Yvonne Trice, a 45-year-old black woman, was strangled to death Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the 17963 Ridgeway Drive in Granada Hills, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Her body was found in her kitchen that afternoon after neighbors called for help. She had been strangled with a coat hanger, according coroner's records.
LAPD officer were later called to investigate an assault in the 8700 block of Independence Ave. and arrested Michael Watkins, a 28-year old white man.
Investigators learned that he and Trice had been dating and he was later booked on suspicion of her murder.
As of Jan. 24, 2010, Watkins was incarcerated at Twin Towers Correctional Facility where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records. His next scheduled court date is Feb. 4.
-- Megan Garvey