Petaluma Man Arrested In Wife's Suicide: Sonoma Co. Sheriff

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Petaluma man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to kill his wife and ultimately assisting with her suicide after authorities arrived to find her body hanging from a tree Wednesday morning in Bodega Bay, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. David Clement, 59, and his wife, Debra Bales, 52, had been staying at the Inn at the Tides for three days and at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, he called authorities and reported that his wife just hung herself from a tree, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum stated Thursday in a news release.

Deputies and California state park rangers responded to the location and found Bales' body suspended by a rope from a tree near the parking lot of the hotel, Crum said.

Detectives were summoned and after speaking with Clement, determined the couple had been staying at the inn with the intent of Bales ending her life, the sergeant said.

"Bales was not deemed terminally ill, however she was in chronic pain and had recently come off opioid medication," Crum said.

"Over the course of the three days Bales attempted suicide three different times, each time being unsuccessful," Crum said. "On these three times, Clement attempted to smother her using a pillow. When these methods were deemed unproductive, they went and bought a rope."

It is alleged that Clement fastened the rope to a tree near their room and tied the knots to assist Bales in her suicide.

When this method proved successful and the suicide was completed, Crum said, Clement called 911.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office decided to arrest Clement on suspicion of attempted murder for "smothering Bales with a pillow and for aiding in a suicide, both felonies," according to the news release.

Jail records show Clement was booked into jail at 8:39 a.m. Wednesday with his bail set at $1 million.

Booking photo via Sonoma County Sheriff's Office jail website