Horse Trader Dies of Stabbing in Escondido

A self-employed horse trader died Sunday of stab wounds inflicted at his rural home near Escondido during an apparent altercation, sheriff’s investigators said.

William Curtis Delaney, 54, was dead on arrival at Palomar Hospital.

Paramedics and sheriff’s deputies had arrived at the home in response to an emergency call to find Delaney, bleeding badly, in a hallway. Deputies questioned Kevin E. Stroud, 30, who lives at the Delaney home with a woman and their four children. Detective Gary Fisher said Stroud was later released. An investigation into Delaney’s death is continuing.