CASTRO VALLEY (KRON) — The woman who was killed in Castro Valley on Tuesday has been identified as 59-year-old Andrea St. John.
Police believe someone killed the Castro Valley resident then set the house on fire to cover up the murder.
“We believe the fire was set to burn the body,” said Sgt. Ray Kelly.
Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 1800 block of Grove Way at about 2:44 a.m. on Dec. 13.
Crews were able to extinguish the blaze within 10 minutes. A firefighter was also injured while trying to extinguish the flames.
“During the autopsy it was discovered that this was likely a homicide,” sheriff’s Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.