Woman Strangles Aunt to Death During Argument Over Cleaning—Police

A California woman allegedly strangled her aunt to death during an argument over cleaning their home, police say.

Police allege Elizabeth Memea, 32, choked her aunt Leticia Hernandez, 52, to death at their home near Castle Park High School in Chula Vista.

Family members had contacted law enforcement after they had not heard from Hernandez for more than 24 hours and were unable to reach her, Chula Vista Police said in a news release.

Officers went to her home in the 100 block of East Prospect Street at about 7:30 p.m. on Friday and searched the property.

They searched the residence and discovered Hernandez dead under a pile of clothing in her bedroom, Lt. Dan Peak said. Hernandez also appeared to have minor injuries to her face.

Peak said detectives were able to determine that Hernandez and a niece she lived with had entered into an argument about cleaning their home.

"During the argument, Memea then attacked Hernandez by choking and eventually killing her," Peak said. The investigation is still ongoing, Peak continued.

Memea was arrested at the home and later booked into the women's Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee on suspicion of murder.

Online records show she remains held in custody without bail and her arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Chula Vista Superior Court.

The Chula Vista Police Department has been contacted for additional comment.

The grim incident comes after a Michigan man allegedly choked his boyfriend to death during an argument over a video game in January.

Police said Docquen Jovo Watkins, 31, and his partner Rory Teasley, 28, were playing multiplayer game Overwatch when they got into the argument. Watkins is then alleged to have choked his partner of 10 years to death.

Also last month, a Washington man was arrested in connection with the killing of his roommate, James Thrower.

Thrower was found strangled to death in a home he shared with Anthony Boggess, who reportedly admitted to killing him. A friend told police that Boggess had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had told her that "demons tell him to hurt people."

And in December last year, a Florida man confessed to strangling his wife at a home where she worked.

Luis Manuel Romero-Moran reportedly told police he had followed his wife, Zoranllilis Cadena Cambar, back to a home in Doral where she worked as a housekeeper and killed her.

Update 3/1/22, 6:40 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.