Body Is Found in Closet; Jailed Husband Booked

A Long Beach man already in custody for alleged spousal abuse was booked Sunday on suspicion of murder after police found his wife’s body in a closet at their home.

Officers found the body of Betty Sanders, 28, at 2 p.m. Saturday, said Long Beach Lt. Philip King. The woman, who had apparently been strangled, had been in the closet about two weeks, he said.

An investigation led detectives to the Long Beach City Jail, where the victim’s husband, Marvin White, was being held for alleged spousal abuse, King said.

It was not known how long White had been in jail, King said, but “there had previously been a spousal abuse report filed by the victim, naming him as a suspect.” King did not know when that report was filed.