People v. Esswein CA4/3

FACTS

In August 2008, Defendant resided with her husband Richard Esswein in Rancho Mirage, California. Richard was 83 years old at the time. Defendant was 62 years old. They had been married for approximately 24 years. They had approximately $2 million in assets. Carol Winkler was the Essweins’ next-door neighbor and a friend of both Defendant and Richard. On August 7, 2008, Winkler met Richard while they were both

2 walking their dogs. Winkler asked Richard for a ride the next morning to pick up her vehicle. That afternoon she called the Essweins’ residence to confirm the plan. Defendant answered and said, without consulting Richard, that it would be no problem for Richard to pick her up the next morning at approximately 8:00 a.m. Winkler asked defendant to confirm with Richard to be sure. Defendant put the phone down and came back a minute later again stating that Richard would pick Winkler up the next morning. The next morning, having not heard from Richard at the appointed time, Winkler called the Essweins’ residence multiple times. There was no answer, so Winkler walked next door to their house. She found a manila envelope on the porch and the door slightly ajar. The…