Mercury News journalist found dead in his home

By Caitlin Cassady

June 22, 2007

Detectives continue to investigate the suspicious death of Richard Ramirez, a longtime veteran journalist who was employed for the San Jose Mercury News, a Livermore police dispatcher said this morning.

Officers discovered Ramirez, a 44-year-old Livermore resident, with a traumatic injury in his backyard on the 1000 block of Innsbruck Street just before 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Police were called to the scene by Ramirez's wife Janet Dalke, who called 911 to report that her husband was possibly deceased at their home. Ramirez was found with a knife wound to his chest, Alameda County coroner Deputy D. Fisher said.

Lifesaving care was rendered to the victim, but Ramirez later died at Valley Care Hospital.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call Detective Jason Boberg at (925) 371-4756.

Copyright © 2007 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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