Jury Acquits Husband in Murder of His Wife
A La Canada Flintridge man was found not guilty Wednesday of murdering his wife and dumping her body in the desert near Victorville.
A San Bernardino County Superior Court jury deliberated for 6 1/2 hours before returning the verdict clearing Donald Miralle, 47. Prosecutors had charged that Miralle murdered Tessie Miralle last year to avoid a costly divorce settlement, then drove to the desert, where he doused her body with gasoline and set it afire. A painter driving to work the next day found the still-burning corpse.
But jurors said they were not convinced that a key piece of prosecution evidence--tire tracks found at the desert scene--actually came from Donald Miralle’s Chevrolet Suburban.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
