A California woman has been arrested after allegedly murdering her husband and fleeing with their three children one week after filing for divorce.
Julie Harper, 39, turned herself in to the police from her father’s home in San Diego Wednesday, less than a day after police found the body of her schoolteacher husband, Jason Harper, in the couple’s home.
In court papers, Julie Harper cited as her reasons for divorce her spouse’s aggressive attitude, profanity and occasional violence toward her, CBS 8 reported.
“At times, respondent has become violent with me by pushing me, shoving me, grabbing my arm and twisting my wrists,” Harper, a real estate agent, said in court documents, the North County Times reported.
Harpers’ three children — aged 8, 6 and 18 months — were gone when police found Jason’s body.
They searched for 16 hours until Julie turned herself in. They were taken into protective custody and will be released into the care of a relative.
Harper is currently being held in Las Colinas’ women’s jail and faces a murder charge. She is set to be arraigned today.
