On February 28, 2019, at approximately 10:28 a.m., Martinez Police officers and medical personnel responded to the 200 block of Escondido Drive for a 911 medical call. The caller advised there was a male at the residence who was not breathing.
Officers and medical personnel arrived on scene and located a 77-year-old male in a bedroom and determined he had died. Officers then conducted a preliminary investigation into the cause of death, with their investigation revealing the death was likely caused by neglect. Two residents living
in the home with the deceased male were identified as Edmund Phillip St. John, 49 years old, and Laura Ann Lawrence, 50, both of Martinez.
The two suspects were arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for manslaughter, elder abuse, and child cruelty – though no specifics were given as to the latter charge.
As a result of a continued investigation, Martinez Police Detectives presented a case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and both previously arrested suspects were charged with murder, manslaughter, elder abuse, intimidating a witness and child cruelty.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Moore of the Martinez Police Department at (925)372-3450.
