LOCAL : Wife Freed in Simi Valley Death

A Simi Valley woman who was arrested in the shooting death of her husband Tuesday was expected to be released today because investigators are unsure whether his death was a murder or a suicide, police said.

Christopher Fortunato, 29, was found shot to death in his home in the 1100 block of Hudson Court at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Officers were called to the home by a neighbor after the victim’s wife, Kari Fortunato, 31, who was covered in blood, ran to the neighbor’s home and knocked on the door, police said.

Sgt. Tony Harper said Kari Fortunato was arrested on suspicion of murder before it was determined at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital that she had gunshot wounds to her hands. She remained hospitalized today in stable condition, police said.

Because of her wounds and other undisclosed evidence, detectives are unsure how Christopher Fortunato was killed or if his wife may have been injured trying to prevent his suicide, Harper said.