Riverside County authorities say a 65-year-old Palm Desert woman was arrested after her husband was found dead from traumatic injuries at The Enclave condominium complex in Palm Desert. Deputies responded to a call on Sept. 4 and pronounced the victim dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect, identified as Vicky Kim, was arrested at the scene and booked into jail on suspicion of murder. Court records allege she used a flagpole to inflict great bodily harm on her husband, who was identified in court filings as R. Kaufman.
The case has also drawn scrutiny because of Kim’s prior domestic violence history. Court records show she was arrested six times between September and January, and five of those cases involving her husband were filed by prosecutors as domestic violence offenses. In January, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office charged Kim with a felony and obtained criminal protective orders for her husband.
Prosecutors said a judge later reduced the charge to a misdemeanor, released Kim despite their اعتراض/objections, and ended the protective order. With the husband now dead, the earlier court handling is likely to face review.
