Woman allegedly killed in Bay Park home had restraining order against husband citing ‘paranoid ideas’

Monica Coates called 911 Monday morning to report that her estranged husband had allegedly crashed his pickup into their Bay Park home.

She had recently secured a restraining order against the man, following what she described in court records as paranoid behavior and a frightening encounter that ended with him being involuntarily hospitalized.

But by the time police arrived at the house eight minutes later, the 61-year-old woman was dead, according to San Diego police. Officers found a small fire inside the home, and both she and her husband had burn injuries, police said.

Stephen Coates, 62, was taken to a hospital and placed under arrest on suspicion of murder, San Diego police said Tuesday. The extent of his injuries was not released.

The incident unfolded quickly beginning about 7:38 a.m. at the home on Dakota Drive at Fontana Avenue. Several neighbors also called 911 to report the crash, and one neighbor reported hearing screams coming from inside the home after the impact, said San Diego police homicide Lt. Chris Tivanian.

When officers arrived minutes later, they called out to the residents inside, but no one answered, Tivanian said. They found Monica Coates dead in the master bathroom with severe burn injuries, he said. Her husband was also in the room with burn injuries.

Officers detained him and provided medical aid before he was transported to a hospital.

San Diego Fire-Rescue firefighters fully extinguished the ...