Man accused of murdering estranged wife near Atwater identified

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Action News is learning more about the man accused of murdering his estranged wife at a family party near Atwater this weekend. The Merced County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect as 60-year-old Crisanto Perez-Bedolla.

Detectives say Perez-Bedolla shot the victim at a home on Franklin Road near Cardella Road on Saturday night. More than a dozen family members were there at the time, and they helped detain the suspect until deputies arrived.

The woman was rushed to a local hospital and died a short time later. Her name has not yet been released.

Perez-Bedolla was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.