Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Alameda County coroner’s bureau has released the name of a Castro Valley woman found dead in a suspicious fire at her home last Tuesday.

Andrea St. John, 59, was found dead in her garage in the 1800 block of Grove Way.

A fire reported at the one-story house at around 2:45 a.m. is being investigated as arson. Investigators think the fire was set in the attic to destroy forensic evidence related to St. John’s death, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.

The autopsy revealed that St. John’s death was likely a homicide, according to the sheriff’s office. Firefighters didn’t find anyone else at the home, fire officials said.

Sheriff’s officials said St. John has been a long time resident of Castro Valley and was a well-respected community member.

Investigators don’t know why anyone would want to kill St. John and are asking for help. Anyone with information about this incident has been asked to call Alameda County sheriff’s officials at (510) 667-3636.

By

By

Join the Conversation

No comments

  1. I haven’t seen the Pleasanton Weekly announce this yet, but two days ago, the DA and the police have announced the arrest of Luckie Danalay ( who was recently arrested in San Joaquin County for child molestation charges ) for the murder of the optician, Andrea St. John, who worked in Pleasanton at Foothill Optometric Group.

    http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/05/05/man-charged-in-womans-brutal-killing-arson-in-castro-valley/

    http://abc7news.com/news/charging-documents-castro-valley-woman-tortured-before-home-set-on-fire/1959906/

    While he was in jail in San Joaquin County, he was implicated in the murder that occurred in Castro Valley. The East Bay Times article says that the DA could possibly pursue the death penalty due to the circumstances surrounding the murder.

    Thank goodness he has been locked up.

  3. This is terrible!

    I didn’t see it in the stories, did the perp know the victim or was it a random break in that went horribly bad?

Leave a comment