SAN DIEGO — Authorities in San Diego reported that a woman who was discovered deceased in her Bay Park residence on Monday had a temporary protective order against her spouse, who officials claim drove a pickup truck into the house just before her body was found.
Upon the arrival of law enforcement, they noticed smoke and a small blaze emerging from the residence. Monica Coates was located deceased in the master bathroom with critical burn wounds. Her spouse was found in the same bathroom suffering from burn injuries and was taken into custody by the police. He was given medical assistance at the location before being taken for additional treatment.
Firefighters from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department managed to put out the fire and secure the premises, while homicide investigators initiated their inquiry. Officials concluded that Stephen Coates was accountable for both crashing the truck into the house and igniting the subsequent fire.
At the time of the incident, Monica Coates was the sole occupant of the house and had a temporary restraining order against her spouse. Legal documents highlighted a background of threats and violence, including events in November wherein Stephen Coates purportedly insisted that Monica “remove her clothing” for examination and rigged the home with traps during her brief absence. She also mentioned that her husband had been admitted to a medical facility by the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team but was discharged sooner than suggested.
Stephen Coates has been charged with murder. The fire continues to be investigated by San Diego's Metro Arson Strike Team.
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