Man Arrested After Strangling Girlfriend and Hiding Body in Trash Can
In a disturbing case from California, 49-year-old D. Aldrich has been charged with murder following the death of his 38-year-old girlfriend, J. Sanetra. The District Attorney’s Office has filed one felony count of murder against Aldrich, along with an enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.
The tragic events unfolded on October 20, 2024, after the couple had spent the evening drinking at their home. Prosecutors report that a heated argument escalated into violence, during which Aldrich allegedly strangled Sanetra and then used a folding knife to cut her wrists. It remains unclear whether he intended to make her death appear as a suicide or simply to ensure she was dead.
After the brutal act, Aldrich reportedly left Sanetra’s body on the living room couch and continued to watch television before going to bed. The following day, he callously dragged her lifeless body outside and concealed it in a trash can next to their residence.
The grim discovery was made on October 22 when landscapers, arriving to mow the lawn, noticed Sanetra’s body partially visible from the trash can. They immediately alerted the police, leading to Aldrich’s arrest at his mother’s home, about 65 miles away from the crime scene.
If convicted, Aldrich faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison. District Attorney T. Spitzer expressed his outrage at the brutality of the crime, stating, “Sanetra did not deserve to be strangled and stuffed into a trash can like a piece of garbage. The callousness of this crime shocks the conscience, and we will do everything to get justice for the victim and her loved ones.”
The community has been deeply affected by this violent act, especially considering Aldrich’s home is located in a “very nice area” of the city, which makes the incident all the more unsettling, according to Police Deputy Chief J. LaPointe.
Aldrich is currently being held on a $1 million bond and is awaiting his arraignment, scheduled for November 19, 2024. As the legal proceedings move forward, both the community and Sanetra’s family seek closure and justice, shedding light on the harsh realities of domestic violence and its tragic consequences.
