Lucerne Valley Man Arrested For Murder of Wife Found in Burned Home

LUCERNE VALLEY – A Lucerne Valley Man was arrested on Friday for the murder of his bedridden wife authorities said.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in the 9800 block of Mesa Road in Lucerne Valley on April 19, 2016. As the firefighters were battling the blaze they located the body of a woman, later identified as 56-year-old Lynda Cestone. Her husband, Donald Wayne Jenman, 68, was also located at the home suffering from minor burns and was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Due to the discovery of the body, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Bomb and Arson Detail were called to the location to conduct an investigation. Through investigation, they located a disconnected gas line causing them to request the assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detail. Homicide Detail responded to the scene to assume the investigation.

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Through investigation, detectives learned that the couple lived along at the home. Lynda suffered a stroke in 2010, which left her paralyzed and bedridden. Further investigation led to the Friday, January 13, 2017, arrest of Donald Wayne Jenman. Jenman was booked into the West Valley Detention Center for murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He is scheduled to appear at the Victorville Superior Court on Wednesday, January 18, 2017.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Mike Cleary or Sergeant Greg Myler of the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail (909) 387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com