Wife Arrested in Husband's Murder

SAN BERNARDINO – The woman who discovered her husband dead early Monday morning has been arrested by police as the main suspect.

Laurie Jean Cone, 47, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, suspected of having killed her husband, John Joseph Cone, 64, who was found shot to death at 2147 North Sierra Way. First police reports said that Cone, along with her daughter, returned from a night of gambling at a nearby casino at 4:30 a.m., noticed a door open at their home, went in and discovered that Cone lying on the floor.

John Joseph Cone owned and ran this one time TV repair shop, where he also dealed in guns

Reports that the home, the site of a radio-TV repair business no longer active, was burglarized of several guns, possibly as many as 20 handguns. The victim’s truck, a white 2003 Ford F-150, was also missing. Williams said those items are still being sought.

Police noted that the difficulty it would have taken for an intruder to enter the site of Cone’s business-residence since it is surrounded by seven-foot high, wrought-iron fencing and guarded by an electronic gate.

Laurie Cone has been booked on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, according to police records. Lt. Paul Williams, spokesman for the San Bernardino Police Dept., did not reveal evidence leading to her arrest. Laurie Cone’s daughter was not under arrest. Nor did police disclose the identity of anyone else suspected in the conspiracy.

The victim, who closed his TV-radio repair business, had still worked in dealing guns and also repaired computers, said police. The couple had been married for nearly 29 years.

Read More:

The Sun: Wife arrested in slaying of TV repair shop owner

Press Enterprise: Wife jailed in burglary, slaying of husband

CrimeVoice: Police Still Seeking suspect in Monday Morning Murder, Gun Theft