The San Francisco Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place early this morning on the 400 block of Ellis Street.
According to the police report, the victim, a 58-year-old woman, was found dead when emergency response units arrived at 12:34am. No additional details are available at this time, according to the SFPD media relations team.
[Update, 2:35pm 12/21: According to the Examiner, the medical examiner's office has identified the victim as 58-year-old Maryanne Descalso. Details on the cause of death have not been released.
Following the murder of beloved North Beach artist Stuart Jackson, this marks the 50th homicide in San Francisco this year. That's five more than last year's total but down from 100 in 2007, according to the Chronicle's review of Bay Area crime rates at the start of this year.
In and around the Tenderloin, the most recent homicides occurred in October, when a 51-year-old woman was shot and killed on Mason near Eddy. A suspect was arrested and charged shortly after.
One week later, police shot and killed 27-year-old Herbert Benitez following a physical altercation with officers at Eighth and Market.
And in August, police were investigating the mysterious death of 48-year-old Sheldon Smith, who was found dead in his O'Farrell Street home due to blunt-force trauma to the head.
We'll share more details about this morning's homicide if and when more details are released.
