HAYWARD – A 47-year-old man was charged with murder Tuesday for apparently strangling his wife of their home on Sept. 23, based on authorities and court records.
Alvaro Sierra is accused of killing 47-year-old Tania Afanador at her home within the 27000 block of Eucalyptus Court.
The couple was going through a divorce but still lived together and had gotten into an argument before the murder, based on court documents. Authorities didn’t say what the dispute was about.
Police were called to the apartment by one other member of the family, who told 911 that something had happened in the home.
Afanador was found unconscious and pronounced dead contained in the home. Final autopsy results are pending, but based on court records, the preliminary finding showed she had injuries consistent with strangulation.
According to police, Sierra, who lists his occupation as a warehouse manager in prison records, was also found at home with self-inflicted cuts.
He was taken to a hospital for treatment. After the preliminary autopsy results were known, he was arrested on suspicion of murder on September 28 and booked into the Santa Rita Jail.
He was held without bail and was scheduled to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
It was initially unknown how long the couple had been married. Police said the couple had no children together.
In a news release announcing the costs, Hayward Police Chief Bryan Matthews said, “Domestic violence is a tragic and often unreported crime. We strongly encourage anyone who finds themselves in an abusive situation to seek help. We are here to provide protection and provide people with the resources and support they need.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the murder is asked to call Detective Niedenthal at 510-293-7176.
The death is the twelfth homicide Hayward police are investigating this 12 months.
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