LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A Glendale firefighter-paramedic accused of killing his wife with an ax inside their North Hollywood home was ordered to stand trial on a murder charge Wednesday, after detectives testified the victim suffered about 32 chop wounds, according to court reports.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle found sufficient evidence for the case against Andrew Jimenez, 46, to proceed to trial at the close of the preliminary hearing on October 21, 2026, according to MyNewsLA.
Jimenez is charged with one count of murder, with an allegation that he used an ax as a deadly weapon, according to the district attorney's office.
If convicted as charged, he faces 26 years to life in state prison, according to the district attorney's office.
A Welfare Check, a Bedroom Scene, and 32 Wounds
On January 21, 2026, Jimenez and three family members went to the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Community Police Station at about 4 a.m. and asked officers to check on his wife at the couple's home in the 5600 block of Satsuma Avenue in North Hollywood, according to testimony reported by MyNewsLA.
Officers found Mayra Jimenez, 46, dead in the couple's bedroom, according to the reports.
"There was blood all over," LAPD Detective Erica Pedroza testified, according to MyNewsLA.
The victim sustained about 32 chop wounds, including 25 to the head, face and neck, according to stipulations presented in court and reported by KTLA and MyNewsLA.
She could not be identified from a photograph and was identified through fingerprint analysis, according to the testimony.
Detectives testified an ax covered in blood was found leaning against the bed, and there were no signs of forced entry into the home, according to MyNewsLA.
A Dismissal Bid, a Motive Claim, and a Judge's Ruling
Deputy Public Defender Mark Carrillo asked the judge to dismiss the charge, arguing the evidence was insufficient, according to MyNewsLA.
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Deputy District Attorney Kelsey McKeever-Unger countered that "the motive was expressed for the murder before the murder," and argued the injuries made it undeniable the killing was a murder, according to MyNewsLA.
Judge McGonigle denied the dismissal bid and ordered Jimenez to stand trial, according to MyNewsLA.
Jimenez has pleaded not guilty, according to court reports.
He remains in custody without bail, according to KTLA.
Jimenez has served as a Glendale firefighter-paramedic since April 28, 2008, and was placed on administrative leave after his arrest, according to the city of Glendale as reported by MyNewsLA.
A Beloved Teacher, a Stunned Neighborhood, and What Comes Next
Mayra Jimenez was a third-grade teacher at Wilshire Park Elementary School in Koreatown, where colleagues described her as a beloved teacher, according to the reports.
A neighbor, Camille Cabrera, told KTLA she had seen no signs of violence at the home and was stunned by the killing.
"He's supposed to be protecting us," Cabrera said, according to KTLA.
At the time of the January charges, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman called the killing "a devastating reminder of the persistent scourge of intimate partner violence in our communities," and urged anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse to contact the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 978-3600, according to the district attorney's release.
Jimenez is scheduled to return to court on November 4, 2026, according to KTLA.
The charge is an allegation. Jimenez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sources
KTLA, detectives reveal injuries in alleged murder by Glendale firefighter, October 22, 2026; MyNewsLA, Glendale firefighter ordered to stand trial for wife's murder, October 21, 2026; Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Glendale firefighter charged with domestic violence murder, January 23, 2026.