| For Immediate Release Case# 14WF3283
September 2, 2014 |
DAUGHTER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF 96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER
WESTMINSTER – A daughter is scheduled to be arraigned today for shooting and murdering her 96-year-old mother. Christine Marie Reynolds, 71, Rossmoor, was charged today with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting she be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment this afternoon in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2014, Reynolds is accused of using a firearm to murder her mother Gretchen DeStefano by shooting her in the head in their Rossmoor home.
Shortly after the shooting, another resident in the home contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), who investigated this case, and arrested the defendant. The investigation by OCSD is on-going.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.