Lake Elsinore Homicide Suspect's Identity Released

Authorities have released the name of the man

Ted Preston Howard, 58, was taken into custody at the scene and is being held at Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.

The identity of the female victim is being withheld by authorities pending notification of next of kin.

Howard was arrested after deputies were dispatched to a home at 32560 Payne Street, less than half a mile outside the Lake Elsinore city limits, at 4:50 p.m. Sunday in reference to a possible dead body at the location.

Officials would not immediately confirm but police scanner chatter indicated that a man called into emergency dispatch and reported killing his wife.

“Deputies arrived and located a deceased female inside the residence. There was evidence of homicidal violence and a later autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” according to a Monday morning news release from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station.

Residents of the Payne Street neighborhood said they thought no one lived in the suspect home.

"We’ve always thought that house was vacant. It was always closed up … there were sheets on the windows," said Lori Day, 44.

“In four months I have never seen anybody at that house. I’ve never seen a wife at that house," Day told Patch at the scene. "Nobody watering the yard," she said. “Nothing’s ever open. The windows are never open. The blinds are never open."

Just once in all that time, Day said she spotted a man drive out of the garage, back up and close the garage door.

The city of Lake Elsinore has had no reported homicide cases this year.

According to jail records, Howard is due to appear in court on June 20. --Mirna Alfonso and Daniel Lane contributed to this report.