SANTA ANA – An Indo-American man accused of strangling his wife and leaving her body in a closet in their Irvine apartment has been charged with murder.
Orange County prosecutors say 39-year-old Shalabh Rastogi was having “marital trouble” with 40-year-old Jalina George, with whom he had three school-aged children.
Prosecutors claim Rastogi strangled George in a bedroom May 21, left her body in the closet, then called police. Prosecutors say the couple’s three children were not home at the time and are now in protective custody.
Rastogi faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. The Indian American is being held without bail pending a hearing June 15.
Rastogi was booked into jail May 22.
He called dispatchers about 9:40 p.m. May 21 to tell them he killed his wife earlier in the day, said Lt. Julia Engen of the Irvine Police Department.
Officers arrived at the couple’s apartment on Monte Vista and took Rastogi into custody without incident, police said.
Inside, officers found the body of Rastogi’s wife. Rastogi, who according to court records works in finance, has been cooperative with investigators, officials said.
Investigators suspect Rastogi killed George, his wife of 13 years, after an argument, but officials would not expand on the details of the disagreement May 22.
