2 Arrested In Martinez Man's Death: Police

MARTINEZ, CA — Two Martinez residents are suspected of neglect, elder abuse and homicide after a man died while in their care, according to an official with the Martinez Police Department. The death was discovered at about 10:28 a.m. Thursday when officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a 911 call from a residence in the 200 block of Escondido Drive, Martinez police Capt. Aaron Roth said late Tuesday night in a news release.

"The caller advised there was a male at the residence who was not breathing," Roth said.

Officers and paramedics arrived at the scene to find a 77-year-old man who was already deceased in a bedroom of the home, the captain said.

The Martinez Police Department's investigation revealed "the death was likely caused by neglect," Roth said.

Edmund Phillip St. John, 49, and Laura Ann Lawrence, 50, who were living with the man at the time of his death, were both arrested and booked into Contra Costa County jail on suspicion of manslaughter, elder abuse and child cruelty, the Martinez police captain said.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has since charged both St. John and Lawrence with alleged homicide, manslaughter, elder abuse, intimidating a witness and child cruelty, Roth said.

The deceased man's identity was not released Tuesday night by police.

Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation is asked to call Martinez detective Sgt. C. Moore at 925-372-3450.

"Lawrence is the daughter of the deceased and St. John is her husband," Moore told Patch in an emailed response. "A child was living in the home."