Husband Charged in Wife’s Beating

A North Hills man who tried to convince police his beaten wife was the victim of a home-invasion robbery was arrested and charged with attempted murder, police said Thursday.

Timmy Dennis Leighton, 41, was arrested after police connected him to the beating of his 39-year-old wife, said Det. Ken Crocker of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division.

Police were called to the couple’s home on the 10100 block of Gaynor Avenue Monday night and found Leighton’s wife was badly injured, Crocker said.

Leighton initially told police that his wife was alone in the couple’s living room when she was attacked by a robber, Crocker said. But Crocker said the husband became a suspect when police were unable to find signs of forced entry. He added that police were also concerned about the husband’s claim because so little of value was missing from the house and neighbors did not report any sounds or suspicious activity.

“We just weren’t able to find any of the things you expect to find in an incident that was originally reported as a home invasion,” Crocker said.

The victim was reported in fair condition remains at a local hospital.