El Cajon Reporter Slain by His Wife’s Attacker

A 31-year-old reporter for The Californian newspaper was stabbed to death Friday in his El Cajon home when he surprised an intruder attacking his wife.

Steve Petix, an education writer and special-projects coordinator, was stabbed by the intruder in his second-floor apartment when he went to help his wife, Vickie.

She escaped and called police, but Petix collapsed on the floor, mortally wounded, and died without regaining consciousness. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The assailant escaped.

Vickie Petix suffered cuts and bruises but was not hospitalized. She told El Cajon police that she returned home at midday Friday and called her husband, who said he would be home for lunch about 1 p.m. About that time, she heard a knock on the door, and a man dressed in work clothes told her he was there to make repairs.

After she let the man in, he grabbed her and attempted to rip off her clothes and rape her, she told police. Then, Steve Petix arrived and attacked the intruder, dragging him off his wife, police said.

When Vickie Petix ran to the apartment of the building manager to summon help, the man, described as Latino, 6 feet tall or taller and weighing about 200 pounds, escaped. Police said witnesses saw him leave in a faded gold Lincoln Continental.

Police in California and Arizona have been notified.

Jim Slusher, managing editor of The Californian, said Petix had been employed there since September, 1982, and “was one of the most dedicated persons I have ever met.”

Slusher said Petix, who held the title of senior reporter, had lived in La Mesa since the age of 3. His parents and in-laws also live in the East County. His brother Mark is a columnist for the Escondido Times-Advocate.

“I don’t think that this could have had anything to do with his work,” Slusher said. “He was not engaged in any sensitive or dangerous assignments.”