A 14-year-old girl and her boyfriend were arrested Wednesday as suspects in the murder of the girl's mother, who was found stabbed in her northern California home, authorities said.
Tylar Witt and Steven Colver, 19, were taken into custody by San Bruno police at a strip mall about 15 miles south of San Francisco, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Department Capt. Craig Therkildsen.
They had been wanted since Monday, when authorities found Joanne Witt, 47, dead in her El Dorado Hills home. Co-workers said Witt had failed to show up for work since Thursday.
Authorities suspect the daughter's relationship with Colver may have led to the murder. Investigators are trying to figure out which of the suspects allegedly committed the murder, or if both participated.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Bill Clark said the pair are being held on arrest warrants alleging murder, but no formal charges have been filed.
Clark was not aware if the two had retained attorneys.
Autopsy awaited
At a news conference Wednesday, sheriff's department spokesman Sgt. Jim Byers said authorities were waiting for the results of an autopsy to determine when Witt died.
Authorities said she had been killed with what is believed to be a kitchen knife. They have not recovered the murder weapon, Therkildsen said.
El Dorado Hills is about 30 miles outside Sacramento and about 115 miles northeast of the San Francisco Bay area.
Byers said police recovered a car on Tuesday they believe the teens abandoned in downtown San Francisco. They also searched a hotel room where they believe the couple stayed Friday night, Byers said.
Authorities had been called to the Witts' home before. Tylar Witt was booked into juvenile hall May 18 for assaulting her mother at the home, according to authorities.