An 85-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive inside a home in the 1000 block of C Street in Encinitas on Saturday, and what doctors found has turned a medical emergency into a criminal investigation.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, medical staff discovered injuries they considered suspicious while treating the woman. Her condition worsened on Sunday, and detectives with the Sheriff's Homicide Unit have now taken over the case.
Homicide detectives are canvassing the neighborhood, knocking on doors and interviewing residents as they work to piece together what happened inside the home. Investigators say there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
What investigators say
FOX 5 San Diego reported that hospital staff identified the suspicious injuries while the woman was being treated, and that her condition declined on Sunday. As of the latest update, investigators have not said whether she has died.
Detectives are asking anyone who knows the woman or saw anything unusual to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Sheriff's Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330 or the non-emergency line at (858) 868-3200. Information can also be shared anonymously with Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Local context
County officials say cases like this highlight just how vulnerable older adults can be. In fiscal year 2022–23, Adult Protective Services handled more than 24,000 reports of suspected abuse involving elders or dependent adults in San Diego County, according to County News Center.
The County's Aging & Independence Services and the Sheriff's Office provide resources for reporting suspected elder abuse, including the APS hotline at 800-339-4661.
The investigation into the Encinitas case remains active. Per the Sheriff's Department, detectives are urging residents in the 1000 block of C Street to review their doorbell or home security footage from Saturday and Sunday and to contact the homicide tip line if they noticed anything out of the ordinary.
