San Jose: Man charged with murdering elderly stepmother

The March 31 discovery of a gravely injured 91-year-old woman at a Mill Pond Drive home was quickly followed by the arrest of her 70-year-old stepson.

SAN JOSE — A man is facing a murder charge in the death of his 91-year-old stepmother, who was found lifeless at their home late last month, authorities said.

Michael Richard Guertin, 70, of San Jose, was arrested March 31, shortly after police were called to a home in the 500 block of Mill Pond Drive, near Curtner Avenue and Highway 87.

The emergency call specifically requested both a medical and police response; responding officers found a woman who was not breathing and had “signs of physical trauma,” according to San Jose police.

She was determined to have been the victim of an assault, and was later identified by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office as Vivienne Guertin.

Michael Guertin was arrested on scene after an initial investigation, police said. Records show he was criminally charged April 3 and arraigned the next day, and is currently being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail.

Details about what led up to the alleged assault were not immediately available. The death marked the 11th homicide of the year investigated by San Jose police.

Anyone with information for investigators can contact the SJPD homicide unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt. Rafael Varela at 3638@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Jose Montoya at 3644@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.