Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/26/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Jill Ravitch

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DeLongis Convicted of Second Degree Murder

Michael DeLongis was convicted of second degree murder Thursday morning by a Sonoma County jury of six men and six women. He was charged with the murder of his wife on September 3, 2002, in their Petaluma home. Kimberly DeLongis was found dead by Petaluma officers at the foot of a stairway inside the residence shortly before 9:00 a.m. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia, due to manual strangulation.

DeLongis called 9-1-1, claiming his wife had fallen and was not breathing. He later claimed she probably tripped over their pet Newfoundland dogs. He ultimately acknowledged to the police that he kicked her down the stairs and then strangled her. At his trial he testified that he had become enraged and his behavior was an autonomic response. A defense psychologist testified that the defendant’s personality disorder made him susceptible to rage. The psychologist also stated that the defendant’s high blood/alcohol level at the time made him less inhibited and more susceptible to rage.

The jury also found DeLongis guilty of a charge of domestic violence and that he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim. A sentencing date has been set for October 30, 2003. He faces a sentence of 15 years-to-life for the murder charge and nine years in state prison for the domestic violence charge. Prosecutor Jill Ravitch represented the District Attorney’s office at trial. Mr. Steve Gallenson of Santa Rosa represented the defendant.