Husband accused of assisting in wife’s death in Palm Springs

An 87-year-old Palm Springs man was behind bars Tuesday on suspicion of assisting in the death of his ill wife.

Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said William Bentinck was arrested at a home on La Condesa Drive late Monday, where the Riverside County Coroner’s Office reported a possible unattended death earlier in the day.

Police spoke with Bentinck and two hospice nurses and found a 77-year-old woman dead in the home. Bentinck was arrested “based on the totality of
the circumstances, including but not limited to statements and evidence,” Kovaleff said.

The woman’s name and cause of death will be released by the coroner’s office, Kovaleff said, adding that the case remains under investigation and no
more details would be released today.

He said the case was sent to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, and he should know if charges will be filed or not soon.

Bentinck was booked on suspicion of murder at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he was being held in lieu of $1 million
bail.