CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (KRON) — A man accused of killing his wife in his Blackhawk home pleaded not guilty to the crime on Tuesday, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
John Tercheria, 69, was arrested on Aug. 8, the day after his wife, 69-year-old Linda Marie Tercheria, was found dead from blunt force head trauma at 4:10 p.m. in their 4,000-square-foot home in the 4300 block of Quail Run Lane.
He was booked into jail but posted $1 million bail later that day.
After further investigation, sheriff’s deputies served a new arrest warrant to him at a home in Dublin on Aug. 9.
Tercheria has been charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon and elder abuse enhancements. A third charge of torture was also initially filed, but Deputy District Attorney Chris Walpole said the charge was dropped after reviewing the autopsy report and crime scene photos.
Tercheria is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 18.