SDPD confirms death of mother and daughter in Mission Valley office building was murder-suicide

MISSION VALLEY (KUSI) — The San Diego Police Department confirmed Tuesday the death of a mother and daughter in a Mission Valley office building was a murder-suicide.

On Saturday, July 22, at 1:22 p.m., the San Diego Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a deceased person inside an office at 3443 Camino Del Rio South.

The first San Diego Police Officers to arrive found a Hispanic female deceased inside her office. With the assistance of the Medical Examiner’s Office it was determined the female sustained a single gunshot wound to her body and her death was the result of a homicide. The victim has been identified as 66-year old Maria Kelly of Chula Vista.

After learning from family members that her mother was found deceased, the victim’s 34-year old daughter drove to the location. Shortly after her arrival, the daughter used the restroom of a nearby business. When she failed to return, another family member found her inside the restroom with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to her body. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. The victim’s deceased daughter has been identified as Crystal Vasquez of Chula Vista.

The San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit conducted the investigation into both cases. The investigation revealed that Crystal shot her mother during the afternoon of Thursday, Jul 20, 2017 and left her mother’s body in the utility room of her office. On Friday, July 21, 2017, Crystal fraudulently cashed a check written from her mother’s banking account.

On Saturday, July 22, 2017, family members discovered Maria’s body inside the utility office and called police. Crystal learned of the discovery from family members and drove to the scene. After learning video surveillance might have covered the entry and exit to her mother’s office, Crystal used the restroom at a nearby business and shot herself.

Forensic examination of the handgun showed that the handgun used by Crystal to commit suicide was the same handgun used to murder Maria. Video surveillance showed that Crystal was inside the office with Maria at the time of the murder.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.