An Arizona grand jury has indicted 46-year-old Justin D., a California resident, on one count of first-degree murder for allegedly poisoning and smothering his wife, Danielle C. D., at a dementia care facility.
According to investigators, Justin traveled from California to visit Danielle and was staying in her room at the facility when she was found dead on June 11. Staff reported that Danielle’s condition rapidly declined after Justin’s arrival. Caregivers noticed suspicious marks on her, worsening health, and increasingly odd behavior from Justin, including locking her room door and instructing staff not to feed her—actions they had to reverse to provide proper care.
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When police responded, they observed bruising on Danielle’s neck and noted her tongue had turned blue. Justin allegedly confessed to trying to kill her by crushing over 50 pills and forcing them into her mouth. After that failed, he bought over-the-counter sleeping pills, mixed them into a slushy, and gave it to her. When that too failed, he reportedly smothered her with a pillow until she stopped breathing.
Authorities confirmed Danielle had a legal prescription for Oxycodone due to her condition, but Justin’s deliberate misuse of it led to the murder charge. Court records show a history of domestic incidents between the couple during their time in Southern California, although details remain sealed.
Justin was arrested and booked into county jail on a $1 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 11.
The care facility issued a brief statement, stressing that staff followed all safety protocols and responded quickly once signs of abuse were detected. The incident has left both staff and family shaken, highlighting ongoing concerns over visitor oversight and safety in facilities for patients with cognitive impairments.
Prosecutors say Justin could face life in prison if convicted.
