Fire investigators suspect man murdered his wife
More information is being released regarding a death investigation that’s been ongoing for nearly a year out of Lucerne Valley. A 68-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife during a house fire, which fire investigators have been looking into since April of 2016.
Donald Wayne Jenman was arrested on Friday, January 13, at the conclusion of the death investigation.
His wife Lynda Cestone, 56-years-old at the time, died during the house fire on April 19, 2016, authorities said in a release. The San Bernardino County Fire Department was called to the house fire in the 9800 block of Mesa Road in Lucerne Valley just before 5 a.m.
Firefighters found Cestone’s body in the home while working to contain the blaze. During the arson investigation, a gas supply line was found to be disconnected. Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, homicide investigators were brought in to assist.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Lynda has suffered a stroke in 2010, rending her paralyzed and bedridden. She and her husband Donald lived by themselves.
Donald suffered minor burns in the fire.
The death investigation wrapped up on January 13, 2017, and Jenman was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center for murder. He’s being held on $1M bail.
KESQ and CBS Local 2 will keep you updated as the case makes it to court.
