RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION Health Care Sierra Tucson Eating Disorders Program Coordinator General A1 Communications Cable Techs Tucson RegionOfficials ID man they say committed murder-suicidearizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.31.2006
Authorities have released the name of a man who police say killed himself after killing his roommate Monday.
On Monday, the bodies of Jesus Javier Davalos, 41, and Kimberly Ruth Battistella, 52, were discovered in Battistella's upscale home near the Tucson Mountains by a friend, said Dawn Barkman, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
On Wednesday, it was determined that Davalos had attacked Battistella before strangling her with a rope, Barkman said. He then took a rope and strangled himself as well. While Barkman would not elaborate on how Davalos strangled himself, she did confirm that he did not hang himself.
Authorities believe that Battistella and Davalos were romantically involved based on witness statements, she said.
Investigators have not determined the motive for the murder-suicide, and no note was left in the home, in the 1800 block of North Whispering Bells Drive, just west of the city limits between Speedway and Ironwood Hill Drive, Barkman added.
Court records show that Davalos was facing an assault charge in 2004, but it was dismissed. No further information was available about that case on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Davalos pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence that was filed in December 2005.
Battistella was listed as a real-estate agent for Tierra Realty and Development. She also was listed as an appointed small-claims officer for Pima County Justice Court.
● Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at 629-9412 or ahuicochea@azstarnet.com.
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