Husband Charged in Wife's Killing Was Out on $1,000 Bail

A California man accused of killing his wife had been released on $1,000 bail in a previous domestic violence case and was under a court order barring him from contacting her or returning to their home, prosecutors said. The earlier court decision has become a central detail in the new murder prosecution.

CBS San Francisco reported that prosecutors objected when a judge set Iovenitti’s bail at $1,000 during a May 19 hearing and ordered him to avoid contact with his wife and stay away from the family home. Police were called back to the home on October 23 after a caller described a disturbance involving an armed man and a woman. Officers forced entry when no one answered and found both with apparent stab wounds. Alisha Iovenitti died despite lifesaving efforts; her husband was hospitalized in critical condition.

Thomas John Iovenitti, 40, was charged Tuesday in the October 23 death of Alisha Iovenitti at their home in Concord. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office says the alleged killing took place while the defendant was out of custody in a pending case stemming from an incident in May.

Prosecutors said the earlier case included allegations of assault with a deadly weapon, assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury, corporal injury to a spouse and false imprisonment. Those allegations had not been resolved by conviction when the October killing occurred.

A prior order to stay away

The district attorney’s office said a judge set Iovenitti’s bail at $1,000 on May 19 despite prosecutors’ opposition. The judge also issued orders prohibiting him from contacting his wife or returning to the family residence. The office did not state in its October announcement that the court had determined he committed the May offenses.

In its October 27 charging announcement, the district attorney described the new complaint as alleging murder and the personal use of a knife. Prosecutors also charged Iovenitti with dissuading a witness from reporting a crime in connection with October 23. The filing includes additional alleged offenses tied to the May incident.

The new complaint further contains five misdemeanor counts, including a count involving violation of a court order and four counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors said three child-endangerment counts relate to the October incident and one relates to May. The charges do not establish that a child witnessed the homicide or specify the children’s personal experiences.

What police found at the home

Concord police said officers were sent to the Panoramic Drive residence shortly before 9 p.m. Friday after a caller reported a disturbance involving a man and a knife. Officers attempted to contact those inside and received no response. They entered the house and found a man and woman with apparent stab wounds.

Alisha Iovenitti was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save her, according to accounts from the police and CBS San Francisco. Thomas Iovenitti was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The available reporting does not establish every moment leading up to the injuries, and those circumstances remain part of the case.

Murder charge and next court proceeding

The district attorney’s office said Iovenitti was being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility and was scheduled for arraignment on October 28. Prosecutors said a conviction on the filed charges could carry a maximum punishment of 29 years to life in state prison.

References: Contra Costa County District Attorney | CBS San Francisco

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