Police: Retired Calif. teacher killed by Arizona ex-lover
Jun 6, 2012, 1:30 PM | Updated: 2:29 pm
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – A retired teacher was murdered last week by a former
lover who died after suffering a heart attack fleeing from her house, police
said Wednesday.
Authorities believe Paul Porter, 66, of Scottsdale, Ariz., killed Janice Somple
at her house in Simi Valley last Thursday.
The case was quickly solved after police were alerted the day of the murder to
a traffic accident less than two miles from Somple’s house. A vehicle matching
the description of one seen leaving Somple’s home after the murder was found.
Behind the wheel was Porter, who died from a heart attack after crashing his
truck, police said.
Investigators wouldn’t say what Porter’s motive was for killing Somple. The two
had dated for roughly 15 years ago, and the relationship ended amicably.
“We know Paul killed Janice and how he did it,” Simi Valley police Sgt. Randy
Foushee said.
An autopsy revealed Somple, 65, had been beaten and stabbed. Somple retired
four years ago after 28 years with the Conejo Valley Unified School District.
Simi Valley is about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and was
regarded as one of America’s safest cities over the past decade. Somple’s death
was the second murder in the city of roughly 125,000 this year. There were none
in 2011.
