Daughter to be charged with the shooting murder of her 96-year-old mother

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2014

Case# 14WF3283

DAUGHTER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF 96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER

WESTMINSTER – A daughter is scheduled to be arraigned today for shooting and murdering her 96-year-old mother. Christine Marie Reynolds, 71, Rossmoor, was charged today with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting she be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment this afternoon in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2014, Reynolds is accused of using a firearm to murder her mother Gretchen DeStefano by shooting her in the head in their Rossmoor home.

Shortly after the shooting, another resident in the home contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), who investigated this case, and arrested the defendant. The investigation by OCSD is on-going.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Director of Public Affairs
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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