Sonoma Valley man, 72, arrested on suspicion of killing his wife

A 72-year old Sonoma Valley man was arrested early Saturday by Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies on suspicion of killing his wife.

About 11:40 p.m. Friday, Steven Rothschild called 911 requesting a deputy come to his Boyes Hot Springs home because his wife, Juanita Rothschild, 67, had “been in a fight” and died, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The couple had been involved in an argument prior to her death, said Lt. Ruben Martinez.

After deputies arrived at the Rothschilds’ home on the 700 block of Amherst Circle, they found Juanita Rothschild, who “appeared to be seriously beaten,” unresponsive on the couple’s living room couch, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and emergency responders were unsuccessful in their efforts to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies did not find any obvious weapons in the house and are still investigating the cause and nature of Juanita Rothschild’s death, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Steven Rothschild was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., according to jail ?records.

You can reach Staff Writer J.D. Morris at 707-521-5337 or jd.morris@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @thejdmorris.