Fairfield Murders Provide Red Flags For Domestic Abuse

FAIRFIELD (KCBS) -- The search continues for a Fairfield man who is suspected of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

According to police, 50-year-old Ricardo Martinez Deleon killed the pair at an apartment complex in Fairfield early Saturday morning.

Deleon is described as a Hispanic man who is about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

He is believed to be traveling in a white 1999 Dodge van with a blue stripe on the side and possible license plate of 8H03092.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

The case also provides several red flags in possible domestic abuse cases, as the murdered woman had sought a restraining order against Deleon.

"She had obtained the restraining order within the last week," said Fairfield Police Lieutenant Greg Hurlbut. "So I'm not sure who she tried to have serve him, but we have a copy of it. It just shows that it was never served to him."

Hurlbut said that while a piece of paper can't stop a bullet, police can offer a gateway to services, including placement programs.

"There is a cycle of violence in domestic violence that can culminate in something tragic like this," Hurlbut said. "We try to avoid that through the use of prosecution and counseling for couples."

Additionally, the Fairfield Police Department has a master social worker on staff that works with couples to break the cycle.

Hurlbut said some red flags for domestic violence include getting jealous and possessive too soon in the relationship, extensive control on where and what their partner does and accusations of cheating.

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