Fresno woman stabbed to death by son identified by police. Supect confessed, officers say

A 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her son Thursday night at an apartment complex in east-central Fresno, police said.

She was identified as Janet Cruz, police said.

According to Fresno Police Lt. Paul Cervantes, officers received a call around 6:30 p.m. of a stabbing at an apartment complex near North Cedar and East Garland avenues, just south of East Dakota Avenue.

Cervantes said the caller was the son of the victim and admitted to stabbing his mother.

Officers arrived and found the suspect outside and discovered Cruz dead inside the apartment with stab wounds to her upper torso. The man, identified Friday as Paul Gonzalez, 52, was arrested.

Police on Friday said that during an interview at police headquarters Gonzalez admitted stabbing his mother during an argument between the two. He was booked into Fresno County Jail for one count of murder.

It was the 27th homicide of the year in Fresno.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the case to contact homicide detectives Victor Miranda at 559-621-2452 or Joshua Alexander at 559-621-2445.

This story was originally published April 29, 2021 at 8:31 PM.